Uttar Pradesh's Dramatic Contest As INDIA Leads Over NDA

Note: This article reflects early election result trends, which may change as the counting progresses.

As the vote counting for the Lok Sabha elections progresses, Uttar Pradesh emerges as a hotspot of surprising trends. Nearly three hours into the count, the state, which has been a stronghold for the BJP in the past two general elections, is witnessing a tight contest between the NDA and the INDIA bloc, which includes the Samajwadi Party and Congress, NDTV reported. The INDIA bloc is currently holding a slight edge over the NDA.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP-led NDA secured 62 out of the state's 80 seats, while the BSP and Samajwadi Party, then allies, won 10 and five seats, respectively. This time around, the BSP is contesting independently, and early trends do not indicate a strong performance.

The Samajwadi Party, led by Akhilesh Yadav, is contesting 62 seats, while the Congress is vying for 17 seats.

The BJP has maintained its alliance with Apna Dal (Sonelal) and has included Jayant Chaudhary's RLD and OP Rajbhar's Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party in the NDA fold.

For the Congress, Amethi and Rae Bareli are crucial battles due to their historical significance for the Gandhi family. Notably, Rahul Gandhi previously lost Amethi to BJP's Smriti Irani. As of 11 am, Irani is trailing behind Congress's Kishori Lal Sharma, a loyalist of the Gandhi family. In Rae Bareli, Rahul Gandhi holds a lead of over 60,000 votes.

Although exit polls had predicted an edge for the NDA in Uttar Pradesh, INDIA bloc leaders had dismissed these projections.

Key constituencies in Uttar Pradesh show Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading against Congress's Ajay Rai in Varanasi, while Rahul Gandhi is ahead in Rae Bareli.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav is leading in the Kannauj Lok Sabha seat.

In Lucknow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, seeking a third term, is leading over SP's Ravidas Mehrotra and BSP's Sarwar Malik.

In Mathura, BJP's actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is ahead of Congress's Mukesh Dhangar.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Smriti Irani is trailing behind Congress's Kishori Lal Sharma in Amethi.