Modi’s Party to Hold Onto Key Indian State, Exit Polls Say

Uttar Pradesh an indicator of national mood ahead of 2024
Votes in five state elections will be counted March 10

A cardboard cut-out of Narendra Modi outside the Bharatiya Janata Party office in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, in February. Photographer: Ruhani Kaur/Bloomberg

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By Bibhudatta Pradhan

March 7, 2022 at 3:53 PM UTC

Updated on

March 8, 2022 at 7:55 AM UTC

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party looks set to retain power in India’s most politically crucial state, exit polls predicted, indicating his popularity remains high despite rising inflation, joblessness and a devastating wave of Covid-19 infections.

At least eight exit polls said Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party would win a majority in the 403-seat assembly in the northern Uttar Pradesh state after the last round of voting ended on Monday. However, the BJP’s victory margin is expected to be tighter from five years ago when it won nearly 80% of the seats.