UP Exit Polls 2024: Pollsters predict big boost for Yogi Adityanath across nine seats

With 90 candidates in the fray, results from the bypolls, which mark the first electoral test after the Lok Sabha elections, will be important for both BJP and Samajwadi Party.

As polling for the by-elections across nine assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh wrap up, the 2024 JVC  and Matrize exit polls give an edge to the BJP-led NDA over Samajwadi Party.

According to MATRIZE, NDA is leading on seven seats while Samajwadi Party is said to be ahead on a total of two seats.

The BJP will win six out of the nine seats in UP by-elections, claimed JVC exit poll.

Polling witnessed a gradual rise in voter turnout, reaching an average of 41.92% by 3 pm on Wednesday. Voting began at 7 am across constituencies including Katehari, Karhal, Ghaziabad, and Phulpur. Kundarki recorded the highest turnout at 50.03%, while Ghaziabad lagged with 27.44%.

Amid complaints by the Samajwadi Party about voter suppression by police, the Election Commission suspended several police personnel in Kanpur and Muzaffarnagar. The BJP also raised concerns about identity verification for burqa-clad women.

Eight seats fell vacant after the incumbent MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha, while polling was held in Sisamau due to the disqualification of Samajwadi Party legislator Irfan Solanki following his conviction in a criminal case.

With 90 candidates in the fray, results from the bypolls, which mark the first electoral test after the Lok Sabha elections, will be important for both BJP and Samajwadi Party, which are vying for superiority in the most crucial political state.

In the recent Lok Sabha polls, the SP-Congress alliance dealt a big blow to BJP after winning 43 out of the 80 seats in the state. SP won 37 seats while Congress bagged 6. The BJP was reduced to 33 seats this year, compared to 62 in 2019.