The Bharatiya Janata Paraty (BJP) on Saturday has taken a strong lead over its main rivals in Uttar Pradesh as millions of votes cast in the staggered assembly election are being counted.
BJP candidates are leading in 98 seats followed by 58 seats for the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance. Mayawati’s BSP is trailing by 38 seats.
Election Commission officials said the BJP was leading in most major cities including Allahabad, Lucknow and Kanpur.
In Amethi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP's Garima Singh had forged ahead.
Uttar Pradesh voted in February-March to elect a new 403-member house.