Uttar Pradesh Exit Poll 2019: BJP and SP-BSP alliance likely to win 39 seats each

With the high-voltage Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh drawing a close on Sunday, News Nation has come up with its Exit Poll to give viewers an impression of what people in the politically crucial state have decided. The Exit Poll will be telecasted LIVE from 6:30 pm onwards on News Nation. 

In a state which virtually decides the fate of parties’ national ambitions, the BJP seeks to repeat its performance of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and the 2017 Assembly elections, it is facing stiff challenge from the SP-BSP-RLD alliance.  

In the seventh and final phase of general elections in the state on Sunday, 13 seats went to polls to decide the fate of 167 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The politically crucial state – which sends 80 members to the Lok Sabha – voted across all the seven phases on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29, May 6, May 12 and May 19.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP rode the ‘Modi wave’ to sweep the state winning 73 seats, including victory in two constituencies by its ally Apna Dal. The party continued with its remarkable performance in the state in the 2017 Assembly polls when it came back to power after 15 years.

The BJP, along with its allies Apna Dal and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP), won 325 seats, thereby decimating the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance which could win only 54 seats. With Yogi Adityanath elected as the chief minister, the party made a strong comeback in the state after 15 years.

This time, the BJP managed to retain its ally Apna Dal but faced setback with Om Prakash Rajbhar’s SBSP parting ways and fielding its candidates on 39 seats. However, it wooed the NISHAD Party and inducted 'giant killer' Pravin Nishad into its fold.  

On the other hand, the once-rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party entered into a historic alliance and also got Chaudhary Ajit Singh’s RLD on board, in order to keep BJP out of power in the state.

Meanwhile, the Congress – revived by the recent victories in Hindi heartland states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan – is hoping to turn the tide with the entry of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. It is contesting on 67 seats.