Uttar Pradesh emerges as the focal point of suspense as the counting of votes progresses for the Lok Sabha polls. In a dramatic turn of events, the BJP stronghold of the past two general elections finds itself engaged in a close contest between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, consisting of the Samajwadi Party and Congress. Surprisingly, the INDIA bloc currently holds a slender lead over the NDA.
According to the latest updates from the Election Commission, the NDA leads in 38 seats (with the BJP securing 36 and the RLD 2), while the INDIA bloc is ahead with 42 seats (SP holding 34 and Congress 8).
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA had secured a significant victory with 62 out of 80 seats in the state, supported by the BSP and Samajwadi Party. However, this time, the BSP is contesting independently, and early indications do not favor a strong performance.
The Samajwadi Party, under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, is contesting in 62 seats, while Congress is contesting in 17.
The BJP has maintained its alliance with Apna Dal (Sonelal) and has expanded its coalition with Jayant Chaudhary’s RLD and OP Rajbhar’s Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party.
For the Congress, the battles in Amethi and Rae Bareli hold significant prestige, being the family strongholds. Amethi, especially, where Rahul Gandhi was defeated by BJP’s Smriti Irani in the previous election, is closely watched. As of 11 am, Smriti Irani is trailing behind Congress’s Kishori Lal Sharma, a loyalist of the Gandhi family. In Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi is leading by a margin of over 60,000 votes.
Exit polls had earlier suggested an advantage for the NDA in Uttar Pradesh, but leaders of the INDIA bloc had dismissed these projections.
Key Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh are witnessing notable contests. Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads against Congress’s Ajay Rai in Varanasi, while Rahul Gandhi is ahead in Rae Bareli.
Akhilesh Yadav, the leader of the Samajwadi Party, leads in the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat.
In Lucknow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, aiming for a third term, is ahead of SP’s Ravidas Mehrotra and BSP’s SarwarMalik.
Hema Malini, BJP’s candidate and former actress, is leading in the Mathura constituency against Congress’s Mukesh Dhangar.
However, Union Minister Smriti Irani is currently trailing behind Congress’s Kishori Lal Sharma in Amethi.