UP rejects old faces, elects 253 new incumbents

Lucknow, May 13 (UNI) A record 253 new faces would be seen in the 15th assembly, with a maximum of 165 belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party which won absolute majority of 206 seats in the 403 members Uttar Pradesh assembly.

Of the total 402 elected members, only 149 members were re-elected from their respective political parties and even about 24 turncoats were able to win the polls.

The BSP was the main beneficiery in the elections as it wrested 142 seats from other parties. But only 64 of its sitting MLAs were re-elected on the party symbol out of the total 206 seats won.

The party had also lost 33 seats to other parties with highest of 19 seats to Samajwadi Party.

BSP wrested 71 seats from SP, 44 from BJP and rest from others.

In the 2002 assembly polls BSP, won 98 seats but later 40 members deserted them and joined the SP.

The outgoing SP could win 97 seats of which 44 MLAs have been re-elected, including chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav from both Gunnaur and Bharthana assembly seats.

In the 2002 assembly polls, SP had won 142 seats but later they managed to increase it by another 40 members after the party government was formed in August, 2003.

The party had, however, wrested 19 seats from BSP and 18 from BJP.

The BJP won 50 seats, which included 26 who have been re-elected. The party has wrested five seats from BSP, six from SP and two from Congress.

The Congress has a total of 21 member in the new assembly and they include 14 wrested from other parties and seven re-elected.

UNI