By Krishna N. Das

NEW DELHI (Reuters] – India’s top politician Narendra Modi is expected to maintain control of India’s state with the start of the counting process in a state assembly election. The vote will give clues as to how the country feels before next year’s general election. It’s due to take place by 2024.

According to opinion polls, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh is expected to win a majority despite its much-criticized handling of COVID-19 and high unemployment. Modi also angered over the cancellation last year of farm reforms, which he had canceled after protests.

The BJP had predicted that it would keep the north state. This was due to policies like free staples during the pandemic and a crackdown against crime. Its popularity with the Hindu majority, bolstered by construction of a temple at the spot of a razed Mosque, has been long anticipated.

The Aam Aadmi Party, which governs Delhi’s national capital, is expected to win Punjab elections. However, there are close races in Uttarakhand, Goa, and Manipur.

Uttar Pradesh, home to around a fifth India’s population of 1.35 billion inhabitants, has the most representatives to Parliament of any state.

There is no way for any party or coalition to win the majority of parliament without winning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and its neighbouring states. Both states have been ruled by the BJP.

Uttar Pradesh, a stronghold for the Congress main opposition party, was an important place but has not been able to stop a decline in its popularity over the past few years.

Modi’s party wins Uttar Pradesh as predicted, and opposition hopes for a united front that will challenge him at the next general election are quashed.

Yogi Amityanath, a Hindu monk chosen unexpectedly as chief minister in Uttar Pradesh five years ago and considered a possible prime ministerial contender for the BJP, would win victory in Uttar Pradesh.