BJP-Led NDA Poised for Dominant Victory in UP: Exit Polls Predict

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance is projected to win up to 74 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, the state contributing the highest number of seats to the Lok Sabha, according to the Matrize-Republic exit poll on Saturday.

Predictions by India News-NewsX-D-Dynamics suggest the BJP will improve its 2019 tally, winning 65 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats. NDA allies in the state, Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Rashtriya Lok Dal, are expected to win 2 seats each, bringing the NDA’s total to 69 seats.

The India Today’s Axis My India poll forecasts a 64-67 seat victory for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh. The INDIA bloc is predicted to win around 8-12 seats. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party, part of the INDIA bloc, had entered into a seat-sharing agreement in the state. The Bahujan Samaj Party, running solo, is slated to win zero to one seat.

According to Jan ki Baat poll predictions, the NDA will secure 68-74 seats in Uttar Pradesh, while the INDIA bloc is expected to win 6-12 seats.

In Uttar Pradesh, there was a direct contest between the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc. The BJP contested 75 out of 80 seats, leaving the remaining five to its allies like the Rashtriya Lok Dal and Apna Dal (Sonelal). The Samajwadi Party, part of the INDIA bloc, contested 62 seats, leaving 17 for Congress and one for the Trinamool Congress.

Uttar Pradesh, holding significant political influence in national politics, is home to some of the most important constituencies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi contested from Varanasi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh from Lucknow, and Union Minister Smriti Irani, who defeated Rahul Gandhi in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, from Amethi. From the INDIA bloc, Rahul Gandhi contested from Rae Bareli this year, apart from Wayanad in Kerala, and Akhilesh Yadav from Kannauj.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the NDA won 64 seats, with the BJP securing 62 and Apna Dal winning two. In 2014, the NDA won 73 seats, with the BJP taking 71 and Apna Dal securing two.

Uttar Pradesh voted in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls, starting from April 19 and concluding on Saturday. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.