By PTI Apr 8, 2022 5:33:35 PM IST (Published)
The voters in this biennial election are village pradhans, members and chairman of block development councils, members and chairman of Zila panchayat, and corporators in urban areas. MLAs and MPs are also voters in this poll. The Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have not fielded any candidate in the legislative council polls, making it a straight fight between the BJP and the Samajwadi Party, the principal opposition in the state Assembly.
Following a resounding victory in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly, the BJP has set its eye on becoming the single-largest party in the state Legislative Council as well by winning a majority of the 36 Upper House seats going to polls on Saturday. The 36 seats are spread across 35 local authorities’ constituencies. The biennial poll was earlier planned on two dates but now it will be conducted together on April 9. Counting will take place on April 12.
It is an opportunity for the saffron party to enjoy a majority in both the Houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature. In the 100-member Legislative Council, the BJP has 34 MLCs, the Samajwadi Party 17 and the Bahujan Samaj Party four. The Congress, Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party have one member each in the House. The Teachers’ group has 2 MLCs, while the Independent group (’Nirdal Samooh’) and Independents have 1 MLC each.
As many as 37 seats are vacant at present. Addressing BJP workers a week ago, Chief Minister Adityanath said it was important for the party to win the 36 seats to advance his government’s growth agenda without any hurdle. ”Of these 36 seats, the BJP has won nine unopposed.