Mayawati has an edge in UP: Poll

POLL BATTLE: Mayawati says she is confident that her party will secure absolute majority.

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New Delhi: An Opinion Poll conducted by a TV channel in Uttar Pradesh says that BSP leader Mayawati is set to take the lead in the elections which may produce a hung Assembly.

The results of the opinion poll show that BSP is set to emerge as the single largest party. The opinion poll shows that BSP is expected to get 150-160 seats followed by Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwati Party 140-150, BJP 55-65, Congress 30-40 and others 10-20.

The opinion poll was covered a sample size of nearly 16,000 voters in 133 constituencies across the state.

“The poll suggested 40 per cent of the voters feel Mayawati would make the best Chief Minister and 36 per cent voters favouring Yadav. BJP strongman Kalyan Singh is ranked third bagging 24 per cent of the votes, “ PTI quoted a release from the channel.

According to the poll, when asked whether Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's road shows would make a difference, 54 per cent of the voters say yes. But there seems to be few takers for Rahul's comments on the Babri Masjid issue with 72 per cent saying that the comments were not in good taste.

Sixty five per cent of the BJP voters say that Ayodhya was no longer an election issue, 49 per cent of the voters felt that Yadav was the preferred choice for espousing the cause of the Muslims.

I will be the Prime Minister one day: Mayawati

Ruling out any post-poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati said that she was confident that her party will secure absolute majority.

"The BSP will secure absolute majority. When I am sure of BSP securing absolute majority, there is no question of ifs and buts," PTI quoted Mayawati as saying.

Mayawati was thrice Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.

She said that her party would rule the country some day and she would be the Prime Minister.

"I will be the Prime Minister one day...Yes, I believe it will happen one day...Our supporters across the country are trying to get us to the Centre after UP polls," she said.

UP government is of mafia: Mayawati

Mayawati has criticised Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav saying that Uttar Pradesh Government "is of mafia and corrupt people".

Claiming that Samajwadi Party government has misused the constitution, she said it has spread only dishonesty among youth and others.

"People in UP are distressed and apprehensive," PTI quoted Mayawati as saying at an election rally.

Mayawati claimed if her party came to power it would try to fulfil the reserved quota seats and providing reservation to the religious minorities.

"Our party believes in equality and togetherness. We do not give priority to religion and any such element," she said.

BSP has given 86 tickets to Brahmins, 93 schedule castes, 113 for OBCs, 61 Muslims and 37 to Thakurs.

(With agency inputs)