Uttar Pradesh election results 2017: Why Akhilesh, Rahul did not stand a chance

Uttar Pradesh election results have established that Modi wave is still sweeping the landscape of the most populous state of the country. The Akhilesh-Rahul alliance did not work in Uttar Pradesh, where majority of the voters are below 35 years of age.

The India Today-Axis My India exit poll was right on money as the BJP has repeated its performance of 2014 general elections. The BJP is well on the course to win close to 300 seats in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly.

Uttar Pradesh election results have shown that Modi wave still persists in the state. The Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance has suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the BJP.

Joining of hands by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi could not pose any serious challenge to the BJP in terms of the number seats.

The Samajwadi Party had won majority on its own by winning 224 seats in 2012 but this time SP-Congress alliance are not looking to win even 75 seats.

READ| UP Election Results 2017 LIVE: BJP eyes landslide three-fourth majority; SP-Cong, BSP decimated

But, the question is what went wrong for Akhilesh-Rahul combine or how the duo was undone by Modi-powered BJP despite relentless campaign by the two leaders.

AKHILESH'S 'KAAM BOLTA HAI' REJECTED

Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's claim of bringing unprecedented development in Uttar Pradesh could not win favour from the voters in the Assembly election.

Akhilesh Yadav fought this election on the slogan of 'Kaam Bolta Hai'. But, it seems that the voters of Uttar Pradesh believed more in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's counter- Karnaama Bolta Hai.

Uttar Pradesh witnessed a series of communal clashes under Akhilesh Yadav government. Ministers were sacked on charges of corruption but were re-inducted under pressure from Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav. Such incidents damaged Akhilesh's image of an upright leader.

FAMILY FEUD PROVED COSTLY

Akhilesh Yadav was embroiled in a long-drawn squabble for power with his father Mulayam Singh Yadav and uncle Shivpal Yadav within the Samajwadi Party.Akhilesh emerged victorious with the Election Commission recognising his faction as the true Samajwadi Party assigning him the poll symbol.

Mulayam and Shivpal Yadav openly expressed their opposition to Akhilesh Yadav's style of functioning. Akhilesh responded by allying with Congress hoping that his association with Rahul Gandhi will woo the youths of Uttar Pradesh.

The Samajwadi Party had got 29.29 per cent votes in 2012 while the Congress secured 13.26 per cent votes. The combined vote-share stood at over 42.5 per cent.

Akhilesh expected to check the BJP with this figure. The BJP had got over 42 per cent vote share in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. But, Uttar Pradesh election results have proved his calculation and aspirations too ambitious.

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