NEW DELHI, Jan 19: India’s ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is unlikely to return to power in two states in key provincial elections next month, an opinion poll said on Saturday.

The poll, published by Outlook weekly magazine and carried out by market research agency CFORE, predicted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — which heads the NDA — would come second in the crucial northern state of Uttar Pradesh, winning 110 to 120 seats of the total 403.

The poll said the Samajwadi Party, a socialist party with a large Muslim and peasant following, would be the largest party after the February 14 elections with 155 to 165 seats, resulting in a hung state legislature with no clear winners.

Uttar Pradesh is India’s biggest state with some 166 million people. Political analysts say the Hindu nationalist BJP, which dominates the federal coalition, could ultimately be pushed into early national elections if it loses power in Uttar Pradesh.

The state has been a vital BJP power base and success here could revive a federal government which has been floundering amid stalled economic reforms and a military stand-off with Pakistan, they say.—Reuters