UP elections 2017: Why BJP will score big in the fourth phase

As the BSP and SP lock horns in the fourth phase of UP assembly elections, experts feel that this phase is likely to belong to the BJP.

Uttar Pradesh votes in the fourth phase of the Assembly elections on Thursday. There are 53 constituencies spanning across 7 districts that include the Bundelkhand region and Rae Bareli. Pollsters feel that the BJP is likely to dominate in this phase.

In 2012, the SP had won 24 seats while its alliance partner the Congress bagged 6. The BJP had won just 5 out of the 53 seats. However in the 2014 Parliamentary elections, the tables completely turned over and the BJP was ahead in 37 assembly segments while the SP and Congress won just 5 and 7 respectively. One of the primary reasons for the BJP to surge ahead in 2014 was thanks to a united Hindu vote.

Experts feel that this phase is likely to belong to the BJP. The party has raised several issues which include appeasement and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured to change Bundelkhand's fate like Kutch. The opposition has accused the BJP of making statements to polarise the voters to ensure a repeat of 2014.

Bundelkhand is a mineral rich belt, but the region has hardly seen any improvement. Water scarcity and poor conditions of farmers have been the major talking points during the election campaign. Successive governments too have failed to address these issues which prompted Modi to assure a major change in this region. There is also the issue of anti-incumbency that that BJP is likely to capitalise on.

Key facts:
Constituencies: 53
Total voters: 1,84,82,166
Male: 1,00,31,093
Female: 84,50,039
EVMs: 23,924
Polling stations: 19,487
Districts: Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Allahabad, Jalaun, Jhansi, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Banda, Hamirpur, Chitrakoot and Fatehpur.

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