BJP has edge in UP polls with 170-182 seats: Survey

However, BSP leader Mayawati was the chief ministerial choice for 31% of those surveyed

A survey ahead of the crucial 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections has given the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) an edge, projecting it may emerge as the single largest party with at least 170 seats in the 404-member house.

The India Today TV-Axis survey said the BJP, as of now, was in a position to win 170-182 seats, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Mayawati 115-124 seats and the state's ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) 94 to 103 seats.

The Congress is likely to win only eight to 12 seats in the country's most populous state, according to the survey.

In the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP won 71 of the 80 seats in the politically significant state.

The survey, however, claimed that 31 per cent of those surveyed rated BSP leader Mayawati as their chief minister choice.

Over 30 per cent respondents said that the Modi government at the Centre has not fulfilled many of its election promises.

In the 2012 Assembly polls, the SP emerged the winner with 224 seats, followed by BSP with 80, the BJP with 47 and the Congress 28.