Maya... Maya... Maya... in Uttar Pradesh: BSP All Set to form the Govt.

Everyone including the exit poll pundits predicted that there would be hung assembly in Uttar Pradesh, but Mayawati will emerge as the front runner. She would then require the support of others to form the government. However, Mayawati proved all wrong. She swept the Uttar Pradesh poll and is all set to form the next government there.

Out of the 402 seats, Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) won 207 seats. That became enough for her to become the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. It is certain that she would get the support of some independents.

The ruling Samajwadi Party suffered a setback in all parts of the sets and will have to contend with the No. 2 position. The biggest loser is the BJP, which was trying to revive its fortune in the politically important state. The party fared badly as compared to the last assembly elections in 2002. It slumped further in terms of seats and vote shares. There is no gain or no loss for the Congress, which relied on Rahul Gandhi's charisma to do a magic. But Maya surprised everyone with her social engineering tactics. She is the clear winner, no doubt about this.

Final Tally:

BSP - 208

SP - 97

BJP -50

Congress - 21

Others - 26