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The Bharatiya Janata Party appears set to be dislodged from power in Uttar Pradesh in a hung verdict that saw Samajwadi Party emerging as the single largest party bagging 124 seats out of the 348 seat results declared.
There are 55 more seats where results are yet to be declared.
The Bahujan Samaj Party is second with 82 seats in its name and the ruling BJP has bagged 77 seats. The Congress is trailing in the fifth place with 25 seats, behind others, who have managed to capture 40 seats.
As SP looks to Congress and other anti-BJP groups to stake its claim for government formation, BSP may look to its estranged ally BJP for support in their common desire to Mulayam Singh Yadav-led party out of power.
Significantly, Governor Vishnukant Shastri told reporters that his main concern would be to see which party or group could provide a stable government before he takes a decision on government formation.
With BJP and BSP projected to secure 207 seats in the 403-member house, five more than the magic mark, BSP leader Mayawati flew to New Delhi and sought an appointment with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee setting off speculation of possible understanding between the two parties.
But senior BJP leaders, including Pramod Mahajan and Sushma Swaraj, ruled out BJP staking claim to form government but indicated that if approached for support by some other party, it could be considered.
SP and its allies are projected to secure 143 seats and if supported by Congress, which is likely end up with about 30, the alliance will still be way behind the majority mark.
