Cong survey sees party as UP kingmaker

The Congress brass hope that the party may emerge as a kingmaker in the upcoming assembly elections in UP. The latest internal survey by the party has bolstered this hope as it pegs around 80 seats for the party. The survey was conducted by a professional firm.

The Congress brass hope that the party may emerge as a kingmaker in the upcoming assembly elections in UP. The latest internal survey by the party has bolstered this hope as it pegs around 80 seats for the party. The survey was conducted by a professional firm.

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The survey says there will be no clear winner in the polls for the 403-seat strong assembly and Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi party may lead the race with around 120 seats. Mayawati’s BSP may come to a close second with around 110 seats. The BJP, the survey says, is set for a distant fourth place. In the last assembly polls, the Congress had won only 22 seats.

Officially, the party says it will give a surprise. “We will clearly emerge as the leading party in the polls. We will come close to form our own government and may reach the halfway mark,” said UP Congress spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh. Sources said if the party climbs up to the spot of a kingmaker, it will support a Mulayam. “An SP government supported by the Congress will also give further stability to the UPA,” a Congress leader said.