UP Assembly Election Results 2022: Modi Hails 'Festival of Democracy' After Saffron Surge in 4 States, Says Results Have Set Tone for 2024 Polls

Here’s a look at the vote share of the major parties contesting the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The BJP will form the government after its historic win as it returns to power for a second consecutive term after over three decades. The Samajwadi Party, pitched as the saffron party’s rival, gained in the number of seats. It only won 47 seats in the previous elections. This time, according to the ECI website at 11.15 pm, the SP has won 101 seats and is leading in 10. The BJP, so far, has won 247 seats and is leading in eight more.

Bharatiya Janata Party: 41.6 per cent Samajwadi Party: 32 per cent Bahujan Samaj Party: 12.8 per cent Rashtriya Lok Dal: 3.02 per cent Indian National Congress: 2.38 per cent.

In 2017, the BJP won 312 seats and its allies Apna Dal and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) nine and four, respectively. The SP got 47 seats, BSP 19, Congress seven and others five seats.

(Image: Election Commission of India)

RLD president Jayant Chuadhary said he respected the public opinion after his alliance with the Samajwadi Party lost the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The RLD had fielded candidates on 33 seats in western Uttar Pradesh and won eight, according to information on the ECI website. “I respect public opinion. Congratulations to all the winning MLAs! It is expected that they will work according to the trust of the people. The workers have worked hard, and the struggle will continue!” the RLD chief tweeted in Hindi. In the 2017 state polls, the RLD had won only seat — Chhaprauli — but later expelled the MLA for alleged anti-party activities.

While addressing Bharatiya Janata Party workers after stunning election victories in four states on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also touched upon the issue of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The consequences of the war will be borne by every country, he said. The Prime Minister said India has financial, defence, security, and political ties with the nations fighting the war. “We import oil such as sunflower oil…international prices of coal, gas, and fertilisers are rising rapidly across the world,” he said. The war has sparked global concerns over loss of life and property, as well as its impact on the economies of most countries hit by massive supply-chain disruptions. READ MORE

As results trickled in from all the five states where elections were held, the Gandhis watched in dismay. But in Delhi, not too far away from where they sat, some members of the so-called “G23″ shook their heads and said, “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” After the last round of state polls when the Congress had delivered a duck, Kapil Sibal was the first to speak out and asked for introspection within the party. That it never happened, is reflected in the present results where the Congress has lost out even in states where it had expected to do well, like Uttarakhand and Goa. READ MORE

Son of Samajwadi Party senior leader Mohammad Azam Khan, Abdullah Azam has won by 61,103 votes from Suar assembly seat. He polled 1,26,162 votes, according to the ECI website while his closest rival Apna Dal’s Haidar Ali Khan Alias Hamza Mian who polled 65,059. Abdullah garnered 59.19 per cent votes.

After high drama in Sirathu assembly constituency, deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya lost to Samajwadi Party’s Pallavi Patel. The counting here had to be stopped earlier in the evening for an hour after the BJP demanded that votes from some EVMs be counted again. Maurya was already trailing behind Patel. Tweeting about his loss, he said in Hindi: “I humbly accept the decision of the people of Sirathu assembly constituency, grateful for the hard work of each and every worker, I express my gratitude towards the voters who gave blessings in the form of votes.” Patel got 1,05,559 votes and Maurya polled 98,727.

(Uttar Pradesh deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya lost to Samajwadi Party’s Pallavi Patel in Sirathu assembly segment. Image: News18 Creative)

Maharashtra opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis tweeted to celebrate the BJP’s victory in four out of the five poll-bound states. The counting of votes is still on. He tweeted: “INDIA trusts Hon PM Narendra Modi ji ! We salute his supreme dedication, selfless service, pro-people, Garib Kalyan agenda & #NationFirst policy. This has helped in BJP Uttar Pradesh , BJP Uttarakhand, BJP Manipur, BJP Goa victories! We salute our great leader Hon Narendra Modi ji.”

Fadnavis also congratulated BJP national president JP Nadda, union home minister Amit Shah and all ‘karyakartas’ for the victory in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand and Manipur. Congratulating CM Yogi Adityanath tweeted: “Many congratulations to Yogi Adityanath ji for the thumping win ! Victory in Uttar Pradesh is very special for all of us! ।। जय जय श्रीराम ।। #BJPAgain #BJP”

The ‘NOTA’ option on electronic voting machines has garnered more votes than those polled in favour of some prominent political parties in the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI) website, the vote share of NOTA (none of the above) in the state stood at 0.69 per cent, eclipsing the vote share of AAP (0.35 per cent) and JD-U (0.11 per cent). The vote share of AIMIM was recorded at 0.47 per cent. The CPI’s vote share stood at a meagre 0.07 per cent, while the NCP’s vote share was 0.05 per cent. The vote share of the Shiv Sena was 0.03 per cent. The vote share of CPI(M), CPI(ML) and LJP(RV) stood at 0.01 per cent each. AIFB, IUML and LJP could not manage to get any votes, and their vote share stood at 0.00 per cent, according to the ECI website. PTI

Sitting MLA from Raebareli, Aditi Singh won from her assembly constituency with 1.02 lakh votes, as per official poll results. Singh had quit as a sitting Congress MLA to join the BJP ahead of the Uttar Pradesh elections. She is a second generation politician and the daughter of late Akhilesh Singh, a former five-term MLA from Raebareli Sadar, not long ago considered a Congress bastion. Aditi polled 1.02 lakh votes after an intense electoral fight with nearest rival Ram Pratap Yadav of the Samajwadi Party who polled 95,254 votes, the Election Commission website showed. Her victory margin was 7,175 votes, according to the EC. Congress candidate Manish Singh got 14,954 votes and stood third among the contestants while the BSP’s Mohd Ashraf managed 9,331 votes, while 2,281 voters opted for NOTA (none of the above) option on the EVM, it showed. PTI

(Aditi Singh won from her assembly constituency with 1.02 lakh votes. Image: News18 Creative)

The BJP is holding its parliamentary board meeting today where the names of the observers for all the four states where the party has won will be decided. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, national president JP Nadda, union home minister Amit Shah, union minister Nitin Gadkari and national general secretary BL Santhosh are present for the meeting. The prime minister congratulated all for the party’s massive wins in four out of the five poll-bound states.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari attributed the BJP’s victory in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election to development works carried out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and chief minister Yogi Adityanath. In a series of tweets in Hindi, the road transport and highways minister said Yogi Adityanath has transformed the image of Uttar Pradesh, which was known for ‘goondaraj’ and backwardness, to that of a well-governed and prosperous state. Gadkari also thanked the people of Uttar Pradesh for reposing faith in the BJP. PTI

With the BJP’s impressive show in four out of the five poll-bound states, Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb said people had reposed their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Deb, during a programme at a school in Unakoti district, said those involved in politics for gains have been rejected by voters. “Uttar Pradesh had witnessed a fierce farmers’ agitation and some thought that these farmers would be able to topple the BJP-led government in Lucknow. But the reality is that the voters have reposed their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath,” he said. The BJP received a massive mandate in Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur and Uttarakhand. In Punjab, the AAP has swept the elections. PTI

From a school teacher who wanted to be an IAS officer to becoming the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh four times, Mayawati’s journey has inspired many, particularly in the Dalit community. But the Bahujan Samaj Party leader has been out of power in UP for a decade, and a better showing in the just-ended assembly elections would have come in handy. Instead, the BSP was leading on just a single seat on Thursday evening. In the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh elections, her critics accused Mayawati of missing from the campaign scene, a charge she repeatedly denied. Some called her low-key involvement deliberate, claiming that she was the B-team of the ruling BJP.

A spot of praise by senior BJP leader Amit Shah about her relevance in state triggered more speculation of a possible tie-up between the BJP and the BSP once the results are declared. In any case, the ruling BJP has romped home again in the state on its own. PTI

Ending his victory speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “When every state of the country will develop, then the country will also develop.” Besides, the prime minister also spoke about the BJP’s contribution to good governance, upliftment of the poor and underprivileged, the BJP’s anti-corruption action, as well as the Ukraine war. Here are the key takeaways:

It is a celebration of democracy and every worker of the party has made sure we hit a jeet ka chauka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday, as he addressed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers after the victory in four states. The BJP has retained all four states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa. Modi said, “It is a day of celebration of democracy. I thank the voters, especially women voters and youngsters. BJP workers had promised that Holi will begin on March 10. They fulfilled it. They worked hard to gain people’s trust. Every worker has hit a four of victory for the NDA. The vote share has increased in Goa, UP and Manipur too. For the first time, a BJP CM will be elected for the second term in UP in 37 years. The BJP has created new history in Uttarakhand too.” READ MORE

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a moment to talk about the ongoing war in Ukraine. He said the war was affecting every country in the world and India stood for peace and talks. He also said the cost of the war will have to be borne by all. “The aftermath of (Ukraine-Russia) war will be borne by every country. India has financial, defence, security, political ties with nations fighting the war… We import oil such as sunflower oil… International prices of coal, gas, fertilisers are rising rapidly across the world,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he spoke about development in these elections, but clarified that he was not against any family. “I only told people how pariwarvadis are not letting their state prosper. A day will come when pariwarvadi politics will end. There should be strict action against corruption. People have hatred for the corrupt and corruption and they know that the BJP is the party that act against corruption,” he added.

In a way, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the poll bugle for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. While addressing BJP leaders and workers on the party’s win in four out of five poll-bound states today, the prime minister said the results in 2022 had set the tone for the elections in 2024. He said in Hindi, “22 ke nateejo ne 24 ki line tay kar di (The results of 2022 have set the tone for 2024).”

He said the people of UP had been divided by casteism earlier, but now the people had chosen development in 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2022. “I would also say today that after the 2019 election results, some political experts had said the 2017 results decided the 2019 results. I believe this time also, they will say that the results of 2022 will decide the results of 2024,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the poor and underprivileged had put their faith in the BJP. “It required a lot of hard work to ensure that good governance is delivered to the citizens. I have been a chief minister, and that’s why I know. Earlier, people had to work hard to get basic necessities like electricity, water, gas and telecommunication,” he said. He further said no one would work the way in which he had for the poor. “When you are empathetic to the poor, when you have the country’s best interests at heart, only then can you make brave decisions and that’s where I derive my strength,” he added.