The BJP alliance was leading in Uttar Pradesh with about 250 seats out of 403, according to poll counts, while the Election Commission said the party is likely to retain power. 

Uttar Pradesh BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi said, “Everyone will be surprised by the mandate as we are going to win by a landslide.”

Uttar Pradesh is about one-fifth of India’s 1.35 billion population and sends the most legislators to any state’s parliament. The victory in the northern state comes despite anger over the state and federal governments’ COVID-19 handling, high unemployment, and farm reforms that were canceled by Modi after protests last year.

Meanwhile, the BJP has long predicted success in the most populous state because of policies such as free staples for the poor during the pandemic, a crackdown on crime, and its popularity among the Hindu majority reinforced by the construction of a temple on the site of a razed mosque.

Elections for four smaller states over the previous month show, the Aam Aadmi Party that governs the national capital territory of Delhi is headed for a landslide victory in Punjab, while the races are tight but in favour of the BJP in Manipur, Goa and Uttarakhand.

Aam Aadmi Party leaders said they were ready to take on Modi nationally.