The 2012 Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly election followed as a result the expiration of the five-year term of the previous legislature elected in Uttar Pradesh, India. The election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly was held in seven phases from 8 February through 3 March 2012. Uttar Pradesh has the world's largest population for a sub-national democracy. The incumbent chief minister Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party, which previously won an absolute majority of seats, was defeated by Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party, which gained an absolute majority in the election. Mulayam's son and Samajwadi party state president Akhilesh Yadav was nominated as chief minister by the party.
Background Uttar Pradesh is the largest state in India in terms of population, but the fourth largest in terms of landmass after the bifurcation to create Uttarakhand. It is also considered politically important because of the number of seats it returns to the Lok Sabha and as including the constituencies of such nationally notable figures as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Varun Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi of the Nehru-Gandhi family dynasty. It was also previously the home of Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The legislative assembly has 403 seats, 206 of which were won by the BSP in the previous election.15th Legislative Assembly Partywise Members List 07-06-2010 . Uplegisassembly.gov.in. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
Schedule Initially the ECI announced on 24 December 2011 that the election will occur in seven phases on 4, 8, 11, 15, 19, 23 and 28 February and the results will be declared on 3 March. Later, the date for announcement of result was changed to 6 March.
On 9 January, the Election Commission had announced that the original date of 4 February for the first phase had been changed to 3 March, while vote counting had moved from 4 to 6 MarchUttar Pradesh first phase poll shifted to March 3, counting March 6 (Lead) – Thaindian News . Thaindian.com (9 January 2012). Retrieved 23 January 2012. due to celebrations for Barawafat, for which an Election Commission official said that: "There were concerns people would not be able to come out to exercise their franchise." . Times of India (9 January 2012) Retrieved on 23 January 2012.
Phase Date Constituency (with ECI Assembly constituency number) I8 February145. Maholi, 146. Sitapur 147. Hargaon (SC) 148. Laharpur 149. Biswan 150. Sevata 151. Mahmoodabad 152. Sidhauli (SC) 153. Misrikh (SC) 266. Kursi 267. Ram Nagar 268. Barabanki 269. Zaidpur (SC) 270. Dariyabad 271. Rudauli 272. Haidergarh (SC) 273. Milkipur (SC) 274. Bikapur 275. Ayodhya 276. Goshainganj 277. Katehari 278. Tanda 279. Alapur (SC) 280. Jalalpur 281. Akbarpur 282. Balha (SC) 283. Nanpara 284. Matera 285. Mahasi 286. Bahraich 287. Payagpur 288. Kaiserganj 289. Bhinga 290. Shrawasti 291. Tulsipur 292. Gainsari 293. Utraula 294. Balrampur (SC) 295. Mehnaun 296. Gonda 297. Katra Bazar 298. Colonelganj 299. Tarabganj 300. Mankapur (SC) 301. Gaura 302. Shohratgarh 303. Kapilvastu (SC) 304. Bansi 305. Itwa 306. Domariyaganj 307. Harraiya 308. Kaptanganj 309. Rudhauli 310. Basti Sadar 311. Mahadewa (SC) II11 February312. Menhdawal, 313. Khalilabad 314. Dhanghata (SC) 315. Pharenda 316. Nautanwa 317. Siswa 318. Maharajganj (SC) 319. Paniyra 320. Caimpiyarganj 321. Pipraich 322. Gorakhpur Urban 323. Gorakhpur Rural 324. Sahajanwa 325. Khajani (SC) 326. Chauri-Chaura 327. Bansgaon (SC) 328. Chillupar 329. Khadda 330. Padrauna 331. Tamkuhi Raj 332. Fazilnagar 333. Kushinagar 334. Hata 335. Ramkola (SC) 336. Rudrapur 337. Deoria 338. Pathardeva 339. Rampur Karkhana 340. Bhatpar Rani 341. Salempur (SC) 342. Barhaj 343. Atrauliya 344. Gopalpur 345. Sagri 346. Mubarakpur 347. Azamgarh 348. Nizamabad 349. Phoolpur-Pawai 350. Didarganj 351. Lalganj (SC) 352. Mehnagar (SC) 353. Madhuban 354. Ghosi 355. Muhammadabad- Gohna (SC) 356. Mau 357. Belthara Road (SC) 358. Rasara 359. Sikanderpur 360. Phephana 361. Ballia Nagar 362. Bansdih 363. Bairia 373. Jakhanian (SC) 374. Saidpur (SC) 375. Ghazipur 376. Jangipur 377. Zahoorabad 378. Mohammadabad 379. ZamaniaIII15 February184. Jagdishpur (SC), 185.Gauriganj 186.Amethi 187. Isauli 188. Sultanpur 189. Sadar 190. Lambhua 191. Kadipur (SC) 251. Sirathu 252. Manjhanpur (SC) 253. Chail 254. Phaphamau 255. Soraon (SC) 256. Phulpur 257. Pratappur 258. Handia 259. Meja 260. Karachhana 261.Allahabad West 262.Allahabad North 263.Allahabad South 264. Bara (SC) 265. Koraon (SC) 364. Badlapur 365. Shahganj 366. Jaunpur 367. Malhani 368.Mungra Badshahpur 369. Machhlishahr (SC) 370. Mariyahu 371. Zafrabad 372. Kerakat (SC) 380.Mughalsarai 381. Sakaldiha 382. Saiyadraja 383. Chakia (SC) 384. Pindra 385.Ajagara (SC) 386. Shivpur 387. Rohaniya 388. Varanasi North 389. Varanasi South 390. Varanasi Cantt. 391. Sevapuri 392. Bhadohi 393.Gyanpur 394.Aurai (SC) 395.Chhanbey (SC) 396. Mirzapur 397. Majhawan 398. Chunar 399. Marihan 400.Ghorawal 401. Robertsganj 402.Obra 403. Duddhi (SC)IV19 February154. Sawayazpur, 155. Shahabad 156. Hardoi 157.Gopamau (SC) 158. Sandi (SC) 159. Bilgram Mallanwan 160. Balamau (SC) 161. Sandila 162. Bangermau 163. Safipur (SC) 164.Mohan (SC) 165. Unnao 166. Bhagwantnagar 167. Purwa 168. Malihabad (SC) 169. Bakshi Kaa Talab 170. Sarojini Nagar 171. Lucknow West 172. Lucknow North 173. Lucknow East 174. Lucknow Central 175. Lucknow Cantt. 176.Mohanlalganj (SC) 177. Bachhrawan (SC) 178. Tiloi 179. Harchandpur 180. Rae Bareli 181. Salon (SC) 182. Sareni 183. Unchahar 192. Kaimganj (SC) 193.Amritpur 194. Farrukhabad 195. Bhojpur 196. Chhibramau 197. Tirwa 198. Kannauj (SC) 232. Tindwari 233. Baberu 234. Naraini (SC) 235. Banda 236. Chitrakoot 237. Manikpur 238. Jahanabad 239. Bindki 240. Fatehpur 241. Ayah Shah 242. Husainganj 243. Khaga (SC) 244. Rampur Khas 245. Babaganj (SC) 246. Kunda 247. Vishwanath Ganj 248. Pratapgarh 249. Patti 250. RaniganjV23 February95.Tundla (SC), 96.Jasrana 97.Firozabad 98.Shikohabad 99.Sirsaganj 100. Kasganj 101.Amanpur 102. Patiyali 103.Aliganj 104. Etah 105. Marhara 106. Jalesar (SC) 107. Mainpuri 108. Bhongaon 109. Kishni (SC) 110. Karhal 199. Jaswantnagar 200. Etawah 201. Bharthana (SC) 202. Bidhuna 203. Dibiyapur 204.Auraiya (SC) 205. Rasulabad (SC) 206.Akbarpur-Raniya 207. Sikandra 208. Bhognipur 209. Bilhaur (SC) 210. Bithoor 211. Kalyanpur 212.Govindnagar 213. Sishamau 214.Arya Nagar 215. Kidwai Nagar 216. Kanpur Cantt. 217. Maharajpur 218.Ghatampur (SC) 219. Madhaugarh 220. Kalpi 221.Orai (SC) 222. Babina 223. Jhansi Nagar 224. Mauranipur (SC) 225.Garautha 226. Lalitpur 227. Mehroni (SC) 228. Hamirpur 229. Rath (SC) 230. Mahoba 231. CharkhariVI28 February1. Behat, 2. Nakur 3. Saharanpur Nagar 4. Saharanpur 5. Deoband 6. Rampur Maniharan (SC) 7. Gangoh 8. Kairana 9. Thana Bhawan 10.Shamli 11.Budhana 12.Charthawal 13.Purqazi (SC) 14.Muzaffar Nagar 15.Khatauli 16.Meerapur 43.Siwalkhas 44.Sardhana 45.Hastinapur (SC) 46.Kithore 47.Meerut Cantt. 48.Meerut 49.Meerut South 50.Chhaprauli 51.Baraut 52.Baghpat 53.Loni 54.Muradnagar 55.Sahibabad 56.Ghaziabad 57.Modi Nagar 58.Dhaulana 59.Hapur (SC) 60.Garhmukteshwar 61.Noida 62.Dadri 63.Jewar 64.Sikandrabad 65.Bulandshahr 66.Syana 67.Anupshahr 68.Debai 69.Shikarpur 70.Khurja (SC) 71.Khair (SC) 72. Barauli 73.Atrauli 74.Chharra 75.Koil 76.Aligarh 77.Iglas (SC) 78.Hathras (SC) 79.Sadabad 80.Sikandra Rao 81.Chhata 82.Mant 83.Goverdhan 84.Mathura 85.Baldev (SC) 86.Etmadpur 87.Agra Cantt. (SC) 88.Agra South 89.Agra North 90.Agra Rural (SC) 91.Fatehpur Sikri 92.Kheragarh 93.Fatehabad 94.BahVII3 March17. Najibabad, 18. Nagina (SC) 19. Barhapur 20. Dhampur 21. Nehtaur (SC) 22. Bijnor 23. Chandpur 24. Noorpur 25. Kanth 26. Thakurdwara 27. Moradabad Rural 28. Moradabad Nagar 29. Kundarki 30. Bilari 31. Chandausi (SC) 32. Asmoli 33. Sambhal 34. Suar 35. Chamraua 36. Bilaspur 37. Rampur 38. Milak (SC) 39. Dhanaura (SC) 40. Naugawan Sadat 41. Amroha 42. Hasanpur 111. Gunnaur 112. Bisauli (SC) 113. Sahaswan 114. Bilsi 115. Badaun 116. Shekhupur 117. Dataganj 118. Baheri 119. Meerganj 120. Bhojipura 121. Nawabganj 122. Faridpur (SC) 123. Bithari Chainpur 124. Bareilly 125. Bareilly Cantt. 126. Aonla 127. Pilibhit 128. Barkhera 129. Puranpur (SC) 130. Bisalpur 131. Katra 132. Jalalabad 133. Tilhar 134. Powayan (SC) 135. Shahjahanpur 136. Dadraul 137. Palia 138. Nighasan 139. Gola Gokrannath 140. Sri Nagar (SC) 141. Dhaurahra 142. Lakhimpur 143. Kasta (SC) 144. Mohammdi
Parties A total of 223 parties vied for the 403 seats in the legislative assembly. This was an increase compared to the previous election which featured 131 parties who had filed candidates. The parties represented in the previous legislature were: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) (incumbent) (contested 403 seats) Samajwadi Party (SP) (Resulting majority elected to power) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Indian National Congress (INC) (pre-election alliance with RLD) Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) (pre-election alliance with INC) Rashtriya Parivartan Dal Akhil Bhartiya Loktantrik Congress United Democratic Party Bharatiya Jan Shakti Jan Morcha Rashtriya Swabhimaan Party Peace Party of India Apna Dal Quami Ekta Dal JD(U) All India Trinamool Congress Communist Party of India Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Parties and alliances Alliance/Party Flag Symbol Leader Seats contested Bahujan Samaj Party Mayawati 403 rowspan="2" NDA Bharatiya Janata Party Uma Bharthi 398 402 Janvadi Party (Socialist) 4 rowspan="2" UPA Indian National Congress Raj Babbar 355 401 Rashtriya Lok Dal Chaudhary Ajit Singh 46 Samajwadi Party Mulayam Singh Yadav 401
2010 issues In 2010, INC general secretary Rahul Gandhi was arrested, along with, while he was staging a sit-in in Bhatta Parsaul village in support of farmers agitating against inadequate compensation for the acquisition of their land for a highway project. Though he was released after three hours, INC party members in other parts of the country such as Mumbai's western suburbs of Santacruz, Malad and Borivali protested against his arrest.Serving Mangaloreans Around The World!. Mangalorean.Com. Retrieved 23 January 2012 . Amidst the event he said: "I have seen the violence unleashed on your youth and women. By seeing what has happened here, I feel ashamed to be an Indian. The state government is tormenting its own people."Akshaya Mishra It's not about farmers, silly. It's about votes. First Post (12 May 2011) Though INC party spokesman Subodh Srivastava said that "several party leaders and workers were injured in the lathicharge by police at a number of places in the state (sic) during peaceful protest and demonstration. (sic) More than 10,000 workers and leaders were arrested across the state," the UP government said that there was no impact as a result of the INC agitation and that only 135 people had been arrested in apprehension of breach of peace during the ensuing chakka jam in protest against Gandhi's arrest.Police cracks down on protesting Congress workers in UP. Sify.com (12 May 2011). Retrieved 23 January 2012. Mayawati responded also to the Gandhi agitation by saying: "I would like to tell Yuvraj that whatever struggle he has to do, he should do in his home first, as the decision is in the hands of the Centre...It seems that he is not being heard in his own home and he is venting his frustration by indulging in mean dramatics."Rahul indulging in mean dramatics: Mayawati. Firstpost (12 May 2011). Retrieved 23 January 2012.