Lucknow: Bharatiya Janata Party's is expected to win 170-183 seats in the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, as per a media survey.
However, as per India Today-Axis opinion poll, the verdict is likely to throw a hung Assembly.
As per the survey, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is likely to be the runner-up with 115-124 seats.
On the other hand, incumbent Samajwadi Party may win 94-103 seats.
Meanwhile, the Congress is likely to end up with only 8-12 seats.
Preferred CM
As for CM, the survey found that most wanted BSP supremo to return as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister next year.
While 31 percent respondents wanted Mayawati as their CM, 27 percent wanted to retain incumbent Akhilesh Yadav.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was preferred by only one percent of respondents.
Coming to Congress, one percent of those surveyed approved Sheila Dikshit as the next CM.
And Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was chosen by two percent of people as CM's choice.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP's Yogi Adityanath stood at 18 and 14 percent respectively.
64% of those surveyed said that the BSP chief will be the best bet on handling law and order, while Akhilesh scored 17% and Rajnath Singh 18%.
Congress' revival
As for Congress vice president, 38% of those surveyed said that 46-year-old Rahul Gandhi was party's best bet to revive it in UP.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was favoured by 19% of voters to revive the grand old party and Sheila Dikshit was preferred by 9% of those surveyed.
Issues for BJP
On questioned about BJP's biggest plank, 88% respondents mentioned development.
Issues of a Ram temple at Ayodhya or cow protection garnered three and one percent approval respectively.
Nine percent said that the performance of Narendra Modi government was biggest BJP issue for them.
Also, 54% people surveyed said that atrocities against Dalits and the minorities had increased since last UP Assembly elections in 2012.
