UP election results: BJP workers celebrate in Lucknow
The elections in five states -- regarded as semi-finals before the 2024 general elections -- are largely going in favour of BJP. The party is set to score a spectacular victory in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, and is likely to emerge as the single largest party in two other states it rules -- Goa and Uttarakhand -- pushing Congress to the second place.
In Uttar Pradesh, the party is ahead in more than 260 seats. While this is a reduction from the 320-plus seats it won in 2017, it still becomes the first party in the state to get a consecutive second term in more than three decades.
More importantly, the party has also pushed up its voteshare in the state by a significant 5 per cent per cent -- from 39.7 per cent in 2017 to current 45.3 per cent -- which is likely to stand it in good stead when the 2024 elections roll around. Uttar Pradesh, with 80 parliamentary seats, holds the key to power at the Centre.
"The people of Uttar Pradesh have showed their appreciation for the rule of law that's in place now, as well as the various welfare schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," state law minister Brijesh Pathak told NDTV as the BJP headed for a record win in the state.
"The schemes made an improvement to their lives. Especially they felt that the BJP has established the presence of law and order in Uttar Pradesh, which is why the state as a whole, superceded the boundaries of caste, class and religion and united to vote in the BJP," he added.
In Uttarakhand, the BJP is ahead in 44 seats, which is down by 13, but still comfortably past the majority mark in the 70-seat assembly.
#WATCH | Celebrations at BJP office in Bengaluru, Karnataka as official trends show the party sweeping elections in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and leading in Manipur. #AssemblyPolls2022pic.twitter.com/mwjZqO1Gro
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022
In Goa, the BJP is inching closer to the halfway mark with leads in 19 of the 40 seats. The Congress, which emerged as the single largest party last time, is trailing with 12.
In Manipur, where the BJP formed government last time despite coming second to the Congress, the party has taken the pole position with 29 seats in the 60-member assembly.
