Uttar Pradesh: the INC years, 1951–1974
18 Assembly elections · 1951–2022 · every seat count and share is read from the official record.
Uttar Pradesh has voted in 18 Assembly elections between 1951 and 2022. Indian National Congress has been the largest party in 8 of them — more than any rival.
Power has changed hands 8 times. The steadiest run was Indian National Congress's — the top party from 1951 to 1974 across 6 elections.
In 2002, Samajwadi Party broke through — 143 of 403 seats — ending Bharatiya Janata Party's hold, which fell from 174 to 88.
In 2007, Bahujan Samaj Party broke through — 206 of 403 seats — ending Samajwadi Party's hold, which fell from 143 to 97.
In 2012, Samajwadi Party broke through — 224 of 403 seats — ending Bahujan Samaj Party's hold, which fell from 206 to 80.
In 2017, Bharatiya Janata Party broke through — 312 of 403 seats — ending Samajwadi Party's hold, which fell from 224 to 47.
The sharpest single swing was 1977: Janata Party went from 0 to 352 seats, a gain of 352.
Janata Party's steepest fall came in 1980, from 352 seats to 0.
Most recently, in 2022, Bharatiya Janata Party holds 255 of 403 seats on 41.3% of the vote — a clear majority (202).
Pivotal elections
who held the house, seat by seat- INC30989%
- SP195%
- IND123%
- BJS21%
- Others51%
Indian National Congress · 47.9% of the vote · majority
- JNP35283%
- INC4711%
- IND164%
- CPI92%
- Others10%
Janata Party · 47.8% of the vote · majority
- BJP25563%
- SP11128%
- ADS123%
- RLD82%
- Others174%
Bharatiya Janata Party · 41.3% of the vote · majority
Every time power changed hands
- 1977JNP took the house with 352 of 425, ending INC’s run (215 → 47).
- 1980INC took the house with 309 of 425, ending JNP’s run (352 → 0).
- 1989JD took the house with 208 of 425, ending INC’s run (269 → 94).
- 1991BJP took the house with 221 of 419, ending JD’s run (208 → 92).
- 2002SP took the house with 143 of 403, ending BJP’s run (174 → 88).
- 2007BSP took the house with 206 of 403, ending SP’s run (143 → 97).
- 2012SP took the house with 224 of 403, ending BSP’s run (206 → 80).
- 2017BJP took the house with 312 of 403, ending SP’s run (224 → 47).
Party identity
renames, splits and mergers along the way- Indian National Congress saw All India Trinamool Congress break away in 1998; saw Nationalist Congress Party break away in 1999; saw YSR Congress Party break away in 2011; saw NCO break away in 1969; saw INCU break away in 1979; saw ICS break away in 1978; saw BAC break away in 1966; saw UTC break away in 1969; saw HVP break away in 1996; saw AINRC break away in 2011; took in MSCP in 2014; took in ICS in 1986; took in NNO in 1976; took in HVP in 2004; took in VHP in 1978.
- Bharatiya Janata Party broke away from Janata Party in 1980.
- Samajwadi Party broke away from Janata Dal in 1992.
- Janata Party saw Bharatiya Janata Party break away in 1980 (formed by former Jana Sangh bloc after the Janata Party split); saw JNPSC break away in 1979; absorbed Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; absorbed Swatantra Party in 1977; absorbed BLD in 1977; took in Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1977; took in Swatantra Party in 1974; took in BLD in 1977; took in NCO in 1977.
- Janata Dal was formerly Janata Party (renamed 1988); saw Janata Dal (United) break away in 2003 (Samata Party + JD factions); saw Janata Dal (Secular) break away in 1999; saw Rashtriya Janata Dal break away in 1997; saw Biju Janata Dal break away in 1997; saw Samajwadi Party break away in 1992; saw Rashtriya Lok Dal break away in 1996 (via Lok Dal / Bharatiya Kisan Kamgar Party); saw Indian National Lok Dal break away in 1996; took in LKD in 1988.