Mayawati wave sweeps Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow, May 11 (UNI) The 'Mayawati factor' worked magic as the BSP swept Uttar Pradesh today, dethroning the Mulayam Singh Yadav government and appearing all set to give a stable government to the largest Indian state after years of political instability.

Trends available from 361 constituencies after counting of votes in the seven-phased polling indicated that the BSP was ahead in 177 constituencies in the 403-member assembly.

The Mayawati wave in the state was so intense that virtually all poll pundits were proved wrong. None of the exit poll projections had given her BSP more than 140 seats.

The Samajwadi Party of Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav suffered humiliating reverses in several key bastions and the trends indicated that the party was leading in some 90 constituencies.

However, the UP poll outcome seemed to be a waterloo for the BJP as the party suffered major setbacks and was ahead in just about 50 seats. The party's below expectations performance in the state is being considered a personal blow to BJP President Rajnath Singh, who hails from the state.

Despite hectic campaigning in the state by Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her children, the Congress was in the lead in only about 25-30 constituencies.

The RLD of Mr Ajit Singh was leading in 7 constituencies, Independents were ahead in 8 seats while the JD (U) and the Loktantrik Congress were in the leads in one seat each.

BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra was delighted over the counting trends and hoped the final tally would see his party forming its own government with a clear majority. The Congress, meanwhile, indicated that it was prepared to extend outside support to the BSP in the formation of a government in the state.

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