Communication, visibility and delivery: How Yogi bulldozed Akhilesh Yadav's caste calculus

The BJP has become the only party since 1977 to breach the 40% vote share mark in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections.

The result in Uttar Pradesh has been declared and the BJP has returned to power with a thumping majority. Yogi Adityanath has become the first Chief Minister in 37 years to retain power after completing a full five-year term in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP has become the only party since 1977 to breach the 40% vote share mark in Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The Election Commission data showed BJP bagging a 41.3 % vote share. In 1977, the Janata party had touched a 47.8% vote share high in UP.

The BJP swept the UP polls, winning 255 of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party settled with 111 seats. The Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party trailed far behind, managing to win just 2 seats and one seat respectively.

BJP allies Apna Dal (Sonelal) and Nishad Party secured 12 seats and 6 seats respectively, while SP allies RLD and SBSP secured 8 seats and 6 seats respectively.

In 2022, the BJP’s vote share has moved up from 39.6% to near 42%, indicating both the deepening and widening of its voter base in the state. The Samajwadi party has made an impressive improvement in its vote share at 32% - up from 21.8% in 2017 polls.

The Bahujan Samaj Party has hit its lowest point since 1996 with a vote share of no more than 12.7%. It was at 22.23% in the last assembly election. The Congress registered a 2.3% vote - poorer performance from its last of 6.2% vote share in 2017.

Also Read: | Exit Polls 2022: Sweep predicted for BJP in UP, AAP in Punjab; BJP ahead in Uttarakhand, Manipur