UP exit poll: BSP on top, BJP surges past SP

The BSP continued to hold on to its top position in the race for power in the state followed by the BJP, which edged past ruling SP to secure second place...

The BSP continued to hold on to its top position in the race for power in the state followed by the BJP, which edged past ruling SP to secure second place, exit polls conducted by three TV news channels after the fifth phase of voting in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday showed.

An NDTV exit poll projected 120 to 130 seats for the BSP, 115 to 125 for the BJP, 95 to 105 for the SP, 35 to 45 for the Congress and 15 to 25 for others in the 403-member Assembly.

Its projections for the 57 constituencies that went to poll on Saturday showed 21 for the BJP, 14 for the BSP, 10 for the SP, nine for the Congress and three for others. An exit poll by Star News showed the BSP and the BJP in a neck-and-neck contest after the fifth phase with 24 and 23 seats, respectively, followed by the SP and the Congress. It predicted 141 seats for the BSP, 104 for the BJP and its allies, 91 for the SP, 29 for the Congress and 37 for others.

An India TV-C Voter exit poll only for the fifth phase of polling predicted 18 to 22 seats for the BSP, 12 to 16 for the SP, eight to 12 for the BJP, seven to 11 for the Congress and three to seven for others.