Voters in the last and smallest phase of the UP elections are voting to bring down the curtains on the month-long exercise. But BJP would be aware that just two years earlier, in 2012, it had been reduced to an also-ran with both SP and BSP polling higher than their state-wide averages in this region and BJP's vote share being just 11.5%. The Congress ' share of 8.7% also well short of its state average.This was not really reflected in the seat tallies with SP winning the lion's share (23) and BSP, BJP, Congress and 'Others' sharing the remaining 17 seats more or less equally. Given the Indian voter's tendency to try and avoid "wasting" his or her vote, a party or alliance that's perceived to have done badly in the initial phases could well see its base shrinking in this part, making it somewhat closer to a two-horse race. That could also lead to important vote banks switching preferences at the last minute.

Source: Times of India March 08, 2017 06:33 UTC