LUCKNOW, Oct. 29 -- The outcome of elections to 11 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council seats (graduates and teachers' constituencies) has come as a cause of concern for the ruling BJP ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.

Though the BJP's final tally matches its previous victories in six seats in 2020, the Samajwadi Party clearly gained by winning an additional seat and leading in another.

"Given the amount of effort the party put in, with senior leaders from the organisation and government campaigning, review meetings being held and the cadre mobilised, the results are disappointing to say the least, " a senior BJP leader admitted. He said the advantage of being in power and announcing policy initiatives during the campaign also did not tran...