SP emerges as largest party in UP

The Samajwadi Party is emerging as the single largest party leading in 173 of the total 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh assembly today.

The Samajwadi Party is emerging as the single largest party leading in 173 of the total 403 seats in Uttar Pradesh assembly on Tuesday.

BSP, which had won an absolute majority with 206 seats in the 2007 polls, is leading in 98 seats, whereas BJP and Congress are ahead in 56 seats each.

Other political parties including independents are leading in 14 seats.

Among prominent candidates BJP vice-president Kalraj Mishra in Lucknow East, Uma Bharati in Charkhari, Shivpal Singh Yadav in Jaswantnagar, Gopal Tandon in Lucknow North are leading, whereas cabinet minister Nakul Dubey is trailing in Bakshi ka Talab seat, BJP state president Surya Pratap Shahi in Pathardeva, and UPPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi in Lucknow Cantt.

Wife of Union law minister Salman Khurshid, Louis Khurshid is trailing and was placed fourth after four rounds of counting.

Renu Jaiswal, wife of sitting BSP MLA Ram Prasad Chaudhary arrested by CBI along with Babu Singh Kushwaha in connection with NRHM scam, is leading.

In bastion of Nehru-Gandhi family Amethi, Congress is trailing in two of the five seats, whereas in Rae Bareli the party is trailing in all five seats.

In the SP stronghold Etawah, the party is leading in all three seats.