Opinion poll: Mayawati emerges top choice for CM in UP, BJP leading in terms of seats

The ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh is likely to be out of the government with BJP emerging as the likely leader in terms of seats in the upcoming UP Assembly Election, a new poll has revealed.[caption id=“attachment_3042002” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  BSP chief Mayawati. PTI[/caption] According to the India Today-Axis poll, BJP is expected to win 170-183 votes in the upcoming election, scheduled to take place in another six months. The ruling party at the Centre, however, may not be able to form a government with the results showing signs of a hung assembly. The party must win at least 202 seats in the 403-member assembly to form the government. The poll revealed Mayawati’s Bahujan Samajwadi party as the second favourite in the election with its chances of winning 115-124 seats. However, BSP’s chances still seem high with Mayawati emerging as the favourite candidate for chief minister, with around 31 percent of respondents wanted the four-time chief minister Mayawati as their next chief minister, while 27 percent want to retain incumbent Akhilesh Yadav. Mayawati also saw an emergence in popularity in terms of maintaining law and order situation in the state with a whopping 64 percent of those surveyed liking her as the best option, whereas only 17 percent showed confidence in Akhilesh Yadav. Luck seem to be running out for Yadav also in terms of numbers with the Samajwadi Party expected to win 94-103 seats. However, it’s the Congress which is expected to lose the most at the election. Having Sheila Dikshit as the chief ministerial candidate seem to have failed to create any buzz for the party, with just one percent of those surveyed approving the choice of Dikshit as the next chief minister. The party seems to have failed to create any impression in the public with its chances of winning just eight-12 seats in the upcoming election. As for BJP, Home Minister Rajnath Singh emerged as the third likely chief ministerial candidate at 17 percent whereas BJP’s Yogi Adinath as the second favourite from BJP at 14 percent.