 "BJP, UP")
Two trends are being confirmed halfway into the Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. First, the surge for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has corresponded to the fall in the prospects of the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance. The coalition is floundering as the underestimated Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has emerged as the BJP’s direct opponent in several seats. Second, note bandi (demonetisation) has faded away from popular consciousness, to be replaced by divisive subjects such as alleged discrimination in power supply during religious festivals.
A BJP leader said, “Our data show that of the 73 seats in the first phase, as many as
