UP Poll of Exit Polls 2022: Exit Polls predict Yogi Adityanath coming back

All exit polls are showing lead to BJP. This election was based on PM Modi and CM Yogi's development and welfare schemes. People have realised it and voted for BJP. We are going to form govt with a majority: Nishad Party founder, Sanjay Nishad in Lucknow

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said that, ahead of results on March 10, export themselves have claimed that Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh Yadav's cycle have gone out. 

According to Canakya's Exit Poll, Bharatiya Janata Party is predicted to get 294 seats in Uttar Pradesh, paving way for a second term. Samajwadi Party is forecasted to become the prime opposition with 105 seats, while BSP and Congress may get 2 seats and 1 seat respectively.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is predicted to win Uttar Pradesh Assembly Elections 2022, breaking the 37-year-old jinx by coming to power for a second consecutive term. However, Samajwadi Party is likely to increase its seats. The P-MARQ exit poll has predicted BJP to win 240 seats, while Matrize predicts 262-277 seats.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Monday congratulated everyone for peaceful polling in the state. "I thank every voter," he said.

Uttar Pradesh Minister Sidharth Nath Singh says he is happy with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) winning 240 seats. "The Exit poll are reflecting the mood and trend. We will be happy with 240 seats," Singh said.

According to P-MARQ and Matrize, Yogi Government is coming back to power in Uttar Pradesh. The P-MARQ exit poll has predicted BJP to win 240 seats, while Matrize predicts 262-277 seats.

In Goa, Uttarakhand and several constituencies of Uttar Pradesh, women voters' turnout exceeded men's. The difference was striking in Uttarakhand with women clocking 67.2% turnout as against 62.6% male voting. Goa also witnessed 80.96% women against 78.19% men voters: Chief Election Commissioner

Matrize News Communication has given an edge to BJP in Uttar Pradesh. According to its exit poll, BJP+ is predicted to triumph 262-277 seats, while SP is projected to come second with 119-134 seats. BSP may get 7-15 seats while Congress can get 3-8 seats.

The P-MARQ exit poll has predicted that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led BJP+ is likely to cross the majority mark and is projected to win 240 seats (+-15) in the 403-member Assembly. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party+ is looking to bag 140 seats (+-10). Other parties are likely to have small gains. BSP is likely to bag 17 seats, Congress 4 (+-2) and others 2 seats (+-2).

Metrize predicts BJP to win 262-277 seats, while SP is projected to come second with 119-134 seats

Congress High Command has sent the leaders to assess the pre-counting and post-counting political situation in Uttar Pradesh. Votes will be counted on March 10.

To find out what the voters have decided, standby for Poll of Polls with Republic Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami.

The voting percentage till 5 pm was 54.18%, according to the Election Commission of India's Voter Turnout app.

Over 46 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 3 pm in the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday.

Voting started at 7 am. It ended at 4 pm in the Chakia (Chandauli), Robertsganj and the Duddhi (Sonbhadra) seats, while in the rest of the segments, it will continue till 6 pm.

The districts where polls are underway in this phase are Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra.

The voting percentage till 3 pm was 46.40 per cent, according to the ECI's Voter Turnout app.

While Azamgarh witnessed 45.28 per cent voting, Bhadohi saw 47.49 per cent, Chandauli 50.79 per cent, Ghazipur 46.28 per cent, Jaunpur 47.14 per cent, Mau 46.88 per cent, Mirzapur 46.64 per cent, Sonbhadra 49.84 per cent and Varanasi 43.76 per cent, it showed.

A total of 613 candidates are in the fray for the 54 seats, including those falling in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary segment Varanasi.

The fate of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar and several state ministers will be decided in this round, in which 2.06 crore people are eligible to vote.

Besides state Tourism Minister Neelkanth Tiwari, who is contesting for the Varanasi South seat, other ministers in the fray in the last leg of the elections are Anil Rajbhar (Shivpur-Varanasi), Ravindra Jaiswal (Varanasi North), Girish Yadav (Jaunpur) and Ramashankar Singh Patel (Marihan-Mirzapur).

Dara Singh Chauhan, who had resigned from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet and had joined the SP, is contesting from the Ghosi seat in Mau.

Om Prakash Rajbhar (Zahoorabad), Dhananjay Singh (Malhani-Jaunpur) as the JD(U) candidate, and Abbas Ansari, the son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, from Mau Sadar seat, are contesting in this phase.

Campaigning in this phase reached its crescendo with Prime Minister Modi leading the BJP's poll blitzkrieg in Varanasi and its adjoining districts.

The state has 403 Assembly seats and the results of the elections will be declared on March 10.

(PTI)

Over 46% voter turnout was recorded in the first eight hours of polling for the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday.

The voting percentage till 3 pm was 46.40%, according to the ECI's Voter Turnout app.

"Poor voter turnout so far in last round of polling in Uttar Pradesh both urban & rural (semi), fatigue probably due to the long drawn out election campaign. Not very heartening for those wanting a regime change. Still a couple of hours left before close of polls," tweeted ANI's Smita Prakash.

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said the alliance led by his party will emerge victorious in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls and will work to safeguard the rights and honour of the people of the state.

In a statement issued in Lucknow, he urged people to vote in large numbers in the seventh and final phase of the election on Monday to save democracy and the Constitution.

(PTI)

Over 35% voter turnout was recorded in the first six hours of polling for the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday.

Voting started at 7 am and will end at 4 pm in Chakia (Chandauli), Robertsganj and Duddhi (Sonbhadra) seats while in the rest of the segments, it will continue till 6 pm.

The districts where polls are underway in this phase are Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra. 

The voting percentage till 1 pm was 35.51%, according to the ECI's Voter Turnout app.

While Azamgarh witnessed 34.60% voting, Bhadohi saw 35.60%, Chandauli 38.45%, Ghazipur 34.15%, Jaunpur 35.80%, Mau 37.08%, Mirzapur 38.05%, Sonbhadra 35.68% and Varanasi 33.55%, it said.

(PTI)

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) national spokesperson Rakesh Tikait has alleged that the ruling party can use "unfair" means during the counting of votes for the Uttar Pradesh elections on March 10. 

(PTI)

Speaking to the media after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Captain Amarinder Singh said, "Results not here yet. I had a general discussion with HM, there'll be a detailed discussion once the results come in. It was a general discussion on Punjab, not on elections". On the alliance's poll prospects, he opined, "I am not a Pundit. I am not somebody who can predict. My party has done well. BJP has done well. Let us see what happens'. 

Over 21% of voters exercised their right in the first four hours of polling for the seventh and last phase of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 54 seats on Monday.

Voting started at 7 am and will end at 4 pm in Chakia (Chandauli), Robertsganj and Duddhi (Sonbhadra) seats while in the rest of the segments, it will continue till 6 pm.

The districts where polls are underway in this phase are Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra. 

The voting percentage till 11 am is 21.55%, according to the ECI's Voter Turnout app.

While Azamgarh witnessed 20.06% voting, Bhadohi saw 22.26%, Chandauli 23.51%, Ghazipur 20.05%, Jaunpur 21.83%, Mau 24.69%, Mirzapur 23.46%, Sonbhadra 19.45% and Varanasi 21.19%, it said.

A total of 613 candidates are in the fray on various seats, including those falling in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary segment Varanasi.  

The fate of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar and several state ministers will be decided in this round, in which 2.06 crore people are eligible to vote. 

Once considered a stronghold of the Samajwadi Party, the region saw the BJP making inroads in 2017 by winning 29 seats. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) got six seats and the SP 11.

For the SP, its patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav made a rare appearance in Jaunpur to drum up support for Lucky Yadav, the son of his long-time associate the late Parasnath Yadav. 

Lucky Yadav is in the fray from the Malhani seat.

Mulayam Singh Yadav had earlier campaigned for his son Akhilesh Yadav in the Karhal Assembly segment of Mainpuri.

Besides state Tourism Minister Neelkanth Tiwari (Varanasi South), other ministers in the fray in the last leg of the elections are Anil Rajbhar (Shivpur-Varanasi), Ravindra Jaiswal (Varanasi North), Girish Yadav (Jaunpur) and Ramashankar Singh Patel (Marihan-Mirzapur).

Dara Singh Chauhan, who had resigned from the Yogi Adityanath cabinet and had joined the SP, is contesting from Ghosi in Mau.

Om Prakash Rajbhar (Zahoorabad), Dhananjay Singh (Malhani-Jaunpur) as the JD(U) candidate, and Abbas Ansari, the son of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari, from Mau Sadar seat, are contesting in this phase.

Campaigning in this phase reached its crescendo with Prime Minister Modi leading the BJP's poll blitzkrieg in Varanasi and its adjoining districts.

Besides addressing election rallies, he also held a roadshow for three assembly constituencies in his Lok Sabha segment. 

This phase also saw West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee descending on the pilgrim city to hold a joint rally with Akhilesh Yadav and his RLD ally Jayant Chaudhary.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had been camping in Varanasi for about four days. She, along with her brother Rahul Gandhi, addressed election meetings, whereas BSP supremo Mayawati campaigned in the district and neighbouring areas.

Seeking to override anti-incumbency, the ruling party raised issues like forced migration and law and order problems during the previous SP government, while Akhilesh Yadav targeted the BJP government on the issues of inflation, unemployment, stray cattle, and the farmers' agitation against the Centre's agriculture laws.

The mowing down of four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri was also highlighted by all opposition parties. Union minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra is an accused in the case. 

The state has 403 Assembly seats and the results of the elections will be declared on March 10.

(PTI)

Speaking to the media, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami remarked, "Everyone has done good work, we're having a meeting before the counting of votes. All aspects are being discussed. Everyone will be in their designated areas that day and ensure smooth counting."

As per sources, former CM Captain Amarinder Singh will meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the Punjab election results. Sources revealed that they will discuss the post-poll strategy. In the last few days, Singh has met several leaders of PLC, SAD (Sanyukt) and BJP. 

Union minister and BJP ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) president Anupriya Patel cast her vote in Mirzapur. 

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 21.55% until 11 am. As far as districts are concerned, Mau recorded the maximum turnout at 24.74%.

"BJP and BSP will not win a single seat in Ghazipur, Mau, Azamgarh, Ambedkar Nagar and Ballia. We're winning on 5 of 8 seats in Varanasi, 3 of 4 seats in Chandauli, 7 of 9 seats in Jaunpur. We'll win 45-47 seats in the Purvanchal region," SBSP chief OP Rajbhar told the media. 

"I have cast my vote in Mirzapur. I am assured that all 5 seats in the constituency will be won our NDA candidates," Apna Dal chief Anupriya Patel briefed the media after casting her vote. 

After casting his vote in Mohammadabad, Ghazipur district, BSP MP Afzal Ansari highlighted the key issues affecting the people. He said, "I have voted keeping in mind the issues of inflation, unemployment, corruption, law and order situation in the state". 

After casting his vote in Varanasi, Congress' Ajay Rai said, "Not many people can be seen, unlike before, when long queues were seen outside the polling booth. They haven't made proper arrangements, people are forced to stand in sun. People don't seem to be excited, we'll get a majority." 

As per the Election Commission of India, Uttar Pradesh recorded a voter turnout of 8.58% until 9 am. As far as districts are concerned, Mau recorded the maximum turnout at 9.99%.

Taking to Koo, BKU spokesperson Rakesh Tikait accused the Centre of not keeping the promises made to the farmers. On a day when polling is underway in 54 seats, Tikait contended that the youths will have to come forward to save the nation. 
 

Urging people to exercise their franchise, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Choose such politics for the state which talks about the issues affecting your life. Choose a politics that gives you the option of making your life better. Vote wisely and responsibly". 

BJP's Mirzapur MLA Ratnakar Mishra arrived to cast his vote. District Magistrate Praveen Kumar Laksh said, "Polling started at 7 pm. The SP sahib and I are visiting the polling booths together. Polling is going on peacefully". 

Uttar Pradesh: BSP state president Bhim Rajbhar cast his vote at a polling booth in Mau. Bhim Rajbhar said, "I know that we are fighting this battle and slowly we are reaching our destination."

UP minister Ravindra Jaiswal contesting from Varanasi North Assembly constituency told the media that BJP will win all seats in Varanasi. He added that BJP will get over 350 seats in this Assembly election. 

Voting has commenced in Azamgarh, for the 7th & last phase of the state Assembly elections. Here are visuals from polling booth number 231, Uchh Prathmik Vidyalaya in Narauli. 

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi stated, "Today is the day of completion of the great sacrifice of democracy in Uttar Pradesh. I request all the voters to participate in the seventh and last phase of the assembly elections with full enthusiasm and create a new voting record". 

Voting for the 7th & final phase of the Uttar Pradesh Election has begun. 613 candidates across 54 assembly seats in 9 districts are in the fray. The votes will be counted on March 10. 

Mock polling began in Varanasi for the final phase of the Uttar Pradesh elections. These are visuals from the polling booth number 97 of Nivedita Shiksha Sadan Balika Inter College. 

In an appeal to the voters of UP, he urged them to exercise their franchise in the final phase of the election. He maintained that all respected voters must vote for the victory of nationalism, development and good governance. Moreover, he contended that every vote will save the state from the mafia, rioters and dynasts.

Republic P-MARQ Opinion poll predicts that BJP and its allies are likely to retain power with the party projected to win 252-272 seats in the 403-member Assembly. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party+ is looking to bag 111-131 seats. Other parties are likely to have small gains. BSP is likely to bag 8 - 16, Congress 3-9 and others 0-4 seats.

Varanasi South: Neelkanth Tiwari Vs Kishan Dixit

Falling under PM Modi's constituency, Varanasi South will witness a close battle between BJP MLA Neelkanth Tiwari and SP's Kishan Dixit. SP has picked Kishan Dixit - Mahamritunjay Mandir priest, to counter the Kashi Vishwanath corridor poll plank that BJP has been banking on. With a sizable Muslim-Yadav population, SP hopes to snatch a close victory as the BJP did in 2017. Tiwari had defeated former Congress MP Rajesh Mishra by around 17,000 votes. Tiwari has publically sought forgiveness from his constituents during his campaign, opening himself to the Opposition's ridicule.

Rohaniya : Sunil Patel Vs Abhay Patel

The battle of the Apna Dals - NDA ally Apna Dal (S)'s Sunil Patel will face SP ally Apna Dal (K)'s Abhay Patel for Rohaniya - which falls in Varanasi. The seat which is one of the three seats with a sizable Patel population is one of 17 seats Apna Dal (S) is contesting in UP. In 2017, BJP's Surendra Narayan Singh defeated SP's Mahendra Singh Patel by a margin of 57,553 votes. Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel has won the seat in 2012.

Mau Sadar: Abbas Ansari Vs Ashok Singh Vs Bheem Rajbhar

Jailed gangster Mukhtar Ansari's son - Abbas Ansari is contesting from his father's seat (Mau) on a Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) ticket. Don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari who faces 50 criminal cases is  lodged in the Banda jail and was denied a ticket from BSP. While SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi wooed the gangster, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav prevailed and fielded Ansari's son on an ally's ticket. Abbas Ansari faces BJP's Ashok Singh and BSP's Bheem Rajbhar for the seat held by Mukhtar Ansari since 1996.

Mughalsarai: Ramesh Jaiswal Vs Chandra Sekhar Yadav

Falling under the Chandauli district, BJP's Ramesh Jaiswal will face SP's Chandra Sekhar Yadav, Congress’s Chhabbu Patel and AAP’s Sajjad Ansari. BJP pipped incumbent MLA Sadhna Singh, favouring Jaiswal who holds sway with the trader and OBC community. A miffed Sadhna Singh has hinted at jumping ship after polls. Singh had won the seat by defeating SP's Babulal with a margin of 13243 votes.

Zahoorabad: Om Prakash Rajbhar Vs Kalicharan Rajbhar

Ex-allies BJP and SBSP faceoff for this Rajbhar-dominated seat - Zahoorabad. Falling under Ghazipur district, Zahoorabad will choose between SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar, BJP's Kalicharan Rajbhar and BSP's Sayeda Shadab Fatima. In 2017, Om Prakash Rajbhar on a BJP ticket defeated Kalicharan Rajbhar on a SP ticket by 18,081 votes. Om Prakash Rajbhar - an ex-BJP ally and Yogi cabinet minister tied up with SP, after his 'Bhagidari Sankalp Morcha' (BSM) alliance with PSP, AIMIM, Bhim Army fell apart.

Azamgarh

Falling under Akhilesh Yadav's Lok Sabha constituency, SP eyes to hold its bastion Azamgarh which has been held by Durga Prasad Yadav since 1985. While BJP has fielded Akhilesh Mishra, SP has once again placed faith in 68-year-old Durga Prasad Yadav. Akhilesh Yadav has held multiple rallies in his stronghold, vowing that all seats under Azamgarh will be won by SP.

Malhani

Another SP stronghold falling under Jaunpur is in the poll fray in the last leg of elections. With PM Modi campaigning for BJP's Krishna Pratap Singh, SP has countered by retaining incumbent MLA Lucky Yadav. In 2020, SP's Lucky Yadav won the seat by defeating Independent candidate Dhananjaya Singh with a margin of 5 votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Bahujan Samaj Party candidate Shyam Singh Yadav won from Jaunpur Lok Sabha (MP) Seat with a margin of 80936 votes by defeating Krishna Pratap Singh from Bharatiya Janata Party.

Varanasi South

Falling under PM Modi's constituency, Varanasi South will witness a close battle between BJP MLA Neelkanth Tiwari and SP's Kishan Dixit. SP has picked Kishan Dixit - Mahamritunjay Mandir priest, to counter the Kashi Vishwanath corridor poll plank that BJP has been banking on. With a sizable Muslim-Yadav population, SP hopes to snatch a close victory as the BJP did in 2017. Tiwari had defeated former Congress MP Rajesh Mishra by around 17,000 votes. Tiwari has publically sought forgiveness from his constituents during his campaign, opening himself to the Opposition's ridicule.

Rohaniya

The battle of the Apna Dals - NDA ally Apna Dal (S)'s Sunil Patel will face SP ally Apna Dal (K)'s Abhay Patel for Rohaniya - which falls in Varanasi. The seat which is one of the three seats with a sizable Patel population is one of 17 seats Apna Dal (S) is contesting in UP. In 2017, BJP's Surendra Narayan Singh defeated SP's Mahendra Singh Patel by a margin of 57,553 votes. Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel has won the seat in 2012.

Mau Sadar

Jailed gangster Mukhtar Ansari's son - Abbas Ansari is contesting from his father's seat (Mau) on a Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) ticket. Don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari who faces 50 criminal cases is lodged in the Banda jail and was denied a ticket from BSP. While SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi wooed the gangster, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav prevailed and fielded Ansari's son on an ally's ticket. Abbas Ansari faces BJP's Ashok Singh and BSP's Bheem Rajbhar for the seat held by Mukhtar Ansari since 1996.

In the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly election, BJP won a whopping 312 seats in the 403-member House, whereas BSP could win only 19 seats. On the other hand, the SP-Congress alliance failed to bear fruit as it could win in only 54 constituencies. While this was seen as a mandate for PM Modi as BJP had not declared any CM candidate, Gorakhpur MP Yogi Adityanath was a surprise pick for the post. Though Adityanath and other top BJP leaders have hit the campaign trail seeking re-election, SP too is leaving no stones unturned.

Former UP CM Akhilesh Yadav has embarked on a statewide tour as a part of his "Samajwadi Vijay Yatra" in a bid to stage a comeback in the state. Buoyed by the overwhelming public support during his election campaign, he has often predicted that SP will win 400 seats in the 2022 Assembly polls. While Yadav has ruled out any alliance with Congress and BSP, he has announced a tie-up with Shivpal Yadav's PSP(L), Mahan Dal, OP Rajbhar's SBSP, RLD and the Apna Dal faction of Krishna Patel.

On the other hand, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is leading the Congress campaign centred around the slogan 'Ladki Hoon Lad Sakti Hoon', signifying women empowerment. Even though BSP has been in power multiple times over the last three decades, its supremo Mayawati commenced her party's election campaign only in January. Moreover, AIMIM is also seeking to emerge as a kingmaker in UP having made public its plan to contest 100 seats.

The high-octane campaign for Uttar Pradesh comes to head as 54 assembly constituencies go to polls today. All eyes are on the electoral battle in and around Varanasi which has seen Prime Minister Narendra Modi and prominent leaders from opposition parties leading their campaigns. Nine districts will be polled - Azamgarh, Mau, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Bhadohi and Sonbhadra. In the 2017 election, BJP had won 29 of these seats whereas SP secured victory in 11 seats.