The latest election results reveal a highly competitive landscape, with the BJP maintaining its strength while the Congress shows signs of gaining momentum. In a surprising turn of events, Uttar Pradesh emerges as the epicentre of closely contested battles.
As the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls progresses, Uttar Pradesh witnesses an epic neck-and-neck battle between the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA bloc, comprising the Samajwadi Party and Congress. Currently, the INDIA bloc holds a narrow lead over the NDA, marking a significant shift from the BJP’s dominant performance in previous elections.
BJP is leading on 231 seats,
Congress is leading on 100 seats,
Samajwadi Party is leading 33 seats
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA secured victory in 62 out of the state’s 80 seats. However, this time, the landscape appears to be evolving, with the BSP contesting independently and early trends suggesting a challenging scenario for the party.
Key players in Uttar Pradesh include the Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, and the Congress, which is contesting fiercely on 17 seats. Prestige battles in Amethi and Rae Bareli, traditional strongholds of the Congress, are closely watched. In Amethi, where Rahul Gandhi lost to BJP’s Smriti Irani in the previous election, the Congress candidate Kishori Lal Sharma is currently leading. Meanwhile, in Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi maintains a significant lead.
Although exit polls had favored the NDA in Uttar Pradesh, leaders of the INDIA bloc had dismissed these projections, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the electoral process.
In other key Lok Sabha seats across Uttar Pradesh:
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi leads in Varanasi against Congress’s Ajay Rai.
- Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav maintains a lead in Kannauj.
- Defence Minister Rajnath Singh leads in Lucknow.
- BJP’s Hema Malini is ahead in Mathura.
- Union Minister Smriti Irani trails behind in Amethi against Congress’s Kishori Lal Sharma.
As the nation awaits the final results, the electoral dynamics in Uttar Pradesh reflect a shifting political landscape with significant implications for national politics.
