Written by Rajlaxmi, a grade 7 student. This is the second of a 5-piece article series, covering the UP Vidhan Sabha Elections, 2022. Opinions expressed are the author’s own…

These hurricane-like controversial elections have finally come to an end with the 7^th phase. The last of the 403 constituencies have picked their MLAs and the only question playing on people’s mind is; Will BJP reign again, or has Akhilesh Yadav-led SP redeemed itself?

List of Constituencies for 5^th phase-;

• Ayodhya
• Tiloi
• Salon (SC)
• Jagdishpur (SC)
• Amethi
• Sultanpur
• Sadar
• Lambhua
• Kunda
• Kadipur (SC)
• Chitrakoot
• Patti
• Manikpur
• Rampur Khas
• Babaganj (SC)
• Vishwanath Ganj
• Pratapgarh
• Sirathu
• Manjhanpur (SC)
• Chail
• Isauli Gauriganj Phaphamau
• Matera
• Raniganj
• Bahraich
• Soraon (SC)
• Pratappur
• Handia
• Meja
• Karachhana
• Allahabad North
• Allahabad South
• Allahabad West
• Bara (SC)
• Koraon (SC)
• Ram Nagar
• Kursi
• Barabanki
• Katra Bazar
• Phulpur
• Dariyabad
• Rudauli
• Haidergarh (SC)
• Milkipur (SC)
• Goshainganj
• Balha (SC)
• Nanpara
• Mahasi
• Payagpur
• Kaiserganj
• Bhinga
• Shrawasti
• Mehnaun
• Gonda
• Bikapur
• Colonelganj
• Tarabganj
• Mankapur (SC)
• Zaidpur (SC)
• Gaura

6^th phase constituencies-;

• Katehari
  • Tanda
  • Alapur
  • Jalalpur
  • Akbarpur
  • Tulsipur
  • Gainsari
  • Utraula
  • Balrampur
  • Shohratgarh
  • Kapilvastu
  • Bansi
  • Itwa
  • Doomariyaganj
  • Harraiya
  • Kaptanganj
  • Rudhauli
  • Basti Sadar
  • Mahadewa
  • Menhdawal
  • Khalilabad
  • Dhanghata
  • Pharenda
  • Nautanwa
  • Siswa
  • Maharajganj
  • Paniyara
  • Caimpiyarganj
  • Pipraich
  • Gorakhpur Urban
  • Gorakhpur Rural
  • Sahajanwa
  • Khajani
  • Chauri Chaura
  • Bansgaon
  • Chillupar
  • Khadda
  • Padrauna
  • Tamkuhi Raj
  • Fazilnagar
  • Kushinagar
  • Hata
  • Ramkola
  • Rudrapur
  • Deoria
  • Pathardeva
  • Rampur Karkhana
  • Bhatpar Rani
  • Salempur
  • Barhaj
  • Belthara Road
  • Rasara
  • Sikanderpur
  • Phephana
  • Ballia Nagar
  • Bansdih
  • Bairia

Constituencies in the last/7^th phase-;

• Atrauliya

• Gopalpur

• Sagri

• Mubarakpur

• Azamgarh

• Nizamabad

• Phoolpur Pawai

• Didarganj

• Lalganj

• Mehnagar

• Madhuban

• Ghosi

• Muhammadabad- Gohna (SC)

• Mau

• Badlapur

• Shahganj

• Jaunpur

• Malhani

• Mungra Badshahpur

• Machhlishahr

• Mariyahu

• Zafrabad

• Kerakat

• Jakhanian

• Saidpur

• Ghazipur

• Jangipur

• Zahoorabad

• Mohammadabad

• Zamania

• Mughalsarai

• Sakaldiha

• Saiyadraja

• Chakia

• Pindra

• Ajagara

• Shivpur

• Rohaniya

• Varanasi North

• Varanasi South

• Varanasi Cantt.

• Sevapuri

• Bhadohi

• Gyanpur

• Aurai

• Chhanbey

• Mirzapur

• Majhawan

• Chunar

• Marihan

• Ghorawal

• Robertsganj

• Obra

• Duddhi

With the counting underway as of 10^th March, 2022, BJP has all votes in its favour! Congress, BSP, and regional parties are expected to gather 15-20 seats, BJP to cross 260-70, according to the exit polls, and SP to secure 120+.

An exit poll is the people’s opinion on how they voted, and is usually the basis on which predictions are made for the outcome of the chunaav.

OUTCOME

As of 11^th of March, the day after counting, BJP alliance reigns, with a total of 273 seats, out of which 255 were that of BJP, 12 of Apna Dal and 6 seats for Nishad Party. SP forms the majority opposition with 125 seats, BSP with 1 seat and INC with 2 seats. AAP contested its first election in UP, yet secured no seats. Regional parties secured around 16 seats.

Some districts served clean sweep for BJP. Gorakhpur, Noida and Ghaziabad, Kashi and Mathura are some of these. SP also had clean sweeps in majorly Yadav and Muslim dominitaed areas such as Azamgarh, Ghazipur, Ambedkarnagar, Shamli and Kaushambi.

After analysis of the voters, it was shown that Muslim majority has voted for SP. Usually in the previous elections, Muslim voters used to vote for Muslim candidates, or BSP. But rather this year, the have supported SP, especially in areas where the Muslim candidate may be weak. This caused SP’s votebank to rise by 10%, and BSP’s votebank to decrease to a single digit percentage.

Keshav Maurya, the deputy CM lost the elections. Various ‘Thakur’ leaders lost the elections, as well. Yet, the cabinet had remained diverse, and only thing left to wonder is the formation of the new cabinet.

The diversity of this election’s results, are less of a shock. This shift in power has been defeated, and for the first time in history, a reigning party, has created its government for the second time in a row! Acting almost like a caesura, in this tercet, history is once again experienced by the audiences of these elections.

Arguably, CM Yogi Adityanath, has led this state to its peaks, in trade, cultural and urbanic development, crafts and of course, in matters of crime reduction.

From movements like Missions Shakti, a mission created in 2020, for the safety of women. 1090, the women power helpline, accompanies this. Various Educational movements, accompanied with movements to reduce poverty, health related issues, all lead this state to its zenith.

The talks of the mantri mandal are underway, in the centre and in the state as well.

[ This is 4^th in the 5-piece article series, covering the UP Vidhan Sabha Elections, 2022 ]