Union Home Minister Amit Shah claimed that the Congress-SP combine was defeated in the first phase of polling in Uttar Pradesh. Polling was held for eight seats, including Saharanpur, Bijnor, Kairana, Muzaffarnagar, Nagina (reserved), Moradabad, Rampur, and Pilibhit. Speaking at an election rally in support of BJP candidate Hema Malini in Vrindavan, Shah asserted that Congress and SP were "wiped out" in the first phase. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav claimed a change in the state's atmosphere, stating that people had rejected the BJP after the initial polling.
