UP MLC Polls: BJP bags 4 out of 5 seats, independent also wins

The BJP won four out of five MLC seats in the biennial elections for three graduate and two teacher constituencies, with an independent candidate winning the fifth.

The Samajwadi Party failed to win any seat, thus failing to stake claim to the post of leader of opposition in the House, in a boost to the ruling party ahead of the 2024 general election.

Jai Pal Singh won from Bareilly (Moradabad division), Devendra Pratap Singh from Gorakhpur (Faizabad), Arun Pathak from Kanpur graduate division, Babu Lal Tiwari from Prayagraj (Jhansi) and independent Raj Bahadur Singh Chandel from Kanpur teacher division.

The BJP had clinched a two-thirds majority in the 100-member upper house in April by winning 33 out of 36 seats, bringing its tally to 66. The party now occupies 75 seats while the SP, which was left with nine seats, could have become leader of opposition if it had won one more seat.