UP Polls: BJP alliance partners overtake Cong and BSP

New Delhi: A day after poll results, psychologists doing tally are wondering at the hard knocks that the Congress and BSP faced in Uttar Pradesh.

This is all the more so comparing these weakening giants to the performance of smaller parties like Apna Dal and Nishad party—both parties are alliance partners of BJP. They clinched 12 and 6 seats respectively.

Attributing their performance—which outdid both Congress and Bhahujan Samaj Party (BSP) across the state—to BJP's vigorous presence is largely an injustice. Their inner strength seems to be greater than that of the Congress and BSP.

At the time of reporting around 11 pm last night by IANS, both the BJP's alliance partners were together either leading or winning in 19 seats while Congress only won two and BSP was leading in one seat.

The other results pouring in showed Apna Dal (Soneylal), run by Union Minister Anupriya Patel, winning eight of the 17 contested, while leading in four. Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad) party won five and was leading in two. Top brass of BJP including PM Modi was on the stump with Patel seeking votes for BJP's alliance partners. This pitched campaigning could have its impact on votes, certainly.

Former Jumbo-size party, the Congress with presence across the county, was on Thursday gasping for breath. The party couldn't barely lift its head out, still managing just two seats plus 2.35 per cent votes—look at the political quagmire it has sunk. Out of touch with masses, its leaders too sophisticated to see the issues at grassroots, the Congress is disappearing from the picture—despite Priyanka Gandhi has brought in oodles of energy.

Back in 1990s to early 2000, BSP was formidable in UP—no psychologists worth his or her salt could ever imagine an Uttar Pradesh without BSP either in the lead or in opposition. Now, an emaciated BSP is lonely in square one—would the part every again able to count up getting back in form?

Bagging 12.82 vote shares doesn't mean being in the dead-centre of UP politics anymore.This is despite Jatavs, the sub-caste to which BSP chief Mayawati belongs, hold a 14 per cent share in the scheduled caste category in the state. Even Jatavs knows better than voting to the BSP.

A BJP leader, reportedly, attributed alliance partners 'stunning" performance to BJP's votes being transferred to them in their seats."Results show that people have faith in BJP and its alliance partners and voters whole-heartedly supported them on the seats they contested by blessing with the votes," he said.