BJP takes strong lead in UP

Lucknow, March 11
The Bharatiya Janata Paraty (BJP) on Saturday took a strong lead over its main rivals in Uttar Pradesh as the millions of votes cast in the staggered assembly election were counted.

BJP candidates led in 46 of the 73 seats where counting trends were available, followed in 20 seats by the Samajwadi Party-Congress alliance.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led in seven constituencies.

Election Commission officials said the BJP was leading in most major cities including Allahabad, Lucknow and Kanpur.

In Amethi, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency, the BJP's Garima Singh had forged ahead.

Uttar Pradesh voted in February-March to elect a new 403-member house.