Uttar Pradesh Law Minister Brajesh Pathak on Thursday said the Samajwadi Party had gained more votes in these elections because the opposition support base had coalesced in favour of it, however, the party had been decisively rejected.
"I was never nervous. The people have reposed their faith in the pro-people policies of PM Modi. People of Uttar Pradesh and Lucknow felt that the BJP reinstated the rule of law. They have voted beyond their boundaries of caste and religion. It's a huge majority," Mr Pathak a powerful Brahmin face of the BJP, said.
"The Samajwadi Party has been comprehensively rejected because it nominated criminals. The reason why Samajwadi Party's vote share is up 12 per cent is because they scooped up the entire opposition vote. There was no BSP," he added.
Yogi Adityanath is all set to return as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh with the BJP taking an unassailable lead over rivals in India's politically most vital state, as counting of votes entered its fifth hour on Thursday.
Shortly before 9:30 am, NDTV called the election for the BJP, projecting more than 250 seats for the party out of the state's 403. By 10 am, the BJP, it seemed, could cross 300 - the ambitious target set by the party for itself.
Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, trailing with roughly half the seats, gained over the last election but fell far short of the party's expectations.
"Living Wall Memorial'': UP Man Tattoos Names Of 631 Soldiers On His Body "Brazen, Strongly Disapprove": Supreme Court On UP Delaying Convicts' Applications UP University Of Medical Sciences Invites Applications For Admission To M Pharmacy Courses Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Two Sisters Returning From Court Run Over By Car In UP: Cops India Sends 1,400 kg Anti-Cancer Drugs To Syria In Humanitarian Assistance Police Arrest Suspect In Bihar Dalit Girl Kidnapping, Murder Case Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.