It was a big advantage to the BJP late on Thursday, winning 22 seats and leading in 40 out of a total of 80 constituencies. The BSP had won just four seats and the INC and SP winning one each.
Uttar Pradesh saw the Bharatiya Janata Party coming to power in the State in 2017, after 15 years. The party made massive gains in the Assembly elections — from a mere 47 seats to 325 seats. While the ruling party in the State hopes to translate these gains into parliamentary seats, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have joined hands to beat the BJP.
The State has 80 Parliamentary constituencies, with 71 of them being held by the BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi again, and Home Minister Rajnath Singh is looking to retain his Lucknow seat. Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani is pitted against Congress president Rahul Gandhi for the second time. SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has held the Mainpuri seat for four consecutive terms.
An average of 59% of voters turned up to exercise their right in the State over seven phases.
Here are the live updates:
Trends as of 3 p.m
According to data available as of 3 p.m, the BJP continues to lead in the state in 59 constituencies, followed by the BSP with 12 seats. The SP and Congress are leading in 6 and 1 constituencies respectively.
The trends thus far are favouring the BJP, with the alliance between the SP, BSP and RLD still trailing the ruling BJP by several seats.
Mahagathbandhan helps BSP to stay in the game
BSP leader Mayawati’s decision to forge a Mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) with the Samajwadi Party has paid off for the party.
The BSP failed to win any seat in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections the party's tally was reduced to 19 from 80 in the previous Assembly. This election mattered to Ms. Mayawati the most as the BSP would have lost the national party status and the elephant symbol, if the party hadn't performed well.
The BSP-SP alliance contested in 78 out of 80 seats after talks for an alliance with Congress failed. It, however, didn't field any candidate in Amethi and Rae Baraeli.
The Samajwadi Party too has increased its tally to eight from five in 2014.
Trends as of 12 noon
According to official data available as of 12 noon, the BJP continues to lead in the State in 57 constituencies, followed by the BSP with 11 seats. The SP and Congress are leading in 8 and 1 constituencies respectively.
The trends thus far are favouring the BJP, with the alliance between the SP, BSP and RLD still trailing the ruling BJP by several seats.
Battle for Bundelkhand
The BJP looks set to sweep the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh, repeating its performance of 2014 as well as the 2017 Assembly polls when it won all the 19 Assembly segments here.
Bundelkhand is considered a strong region for the BJP as the Muslim population here is below the state average of 19.5%. The non-Yadav OBC, non-Jatav Dalit and upper caste vote segments kick in for the BJP in this region known for its drought and quarry mining. As per latest figures provided by the Election Commission of India, the BJP is comfortably placed in Jhansi, Hamirpur, Banda and Jalaun. Jalaun is a reserved seat.
Rahul Gandhi trails in Amethi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi is trailing behind BJP's Smriti Irani in the Gandhi family's bastion, Amethi.
The Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party alliance in Uttar Pradesh has not fielded any candidates from Amethi, leaving the field open for a face-off between the Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani and Rahul Gandhi.
The BJP in an aggressive campaign in Amethi has accused Rahul Gandhi, the sitting three-time MP from the constituency, of being a "missing MP" who ignored its residents. In 2014, in a close contest with Irani, Rahul Gandhi won the seat by a margin of a little more than one lakh votes.
The BJP has claimed that Gandhi's candidature from a second seat in Wayanad is out of fear of losing Amethi.
The Amethi seat was contested by Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi till Rahul Gandhi took over in 2004.
Trends as of 11 a.m
According to data available as of 11 a.m, the BJP is leading in the state in 57 constituencies, followed by the BSP with 12 seats. The SP and Congress are leading in 8 and 1 constituencies respectively.
The trends thus far are favouring the BJP, with the alliance between the SP, BSP and RLD still trailing the ruling BJP by several seats.
