The BJP in Uttar Pradesh could lose up to 400 seats in Assembly elections due early next year, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav told NDTV. Mr Yadav slammed the ruling party for its "politics of hate" and - in a swipe at the BJP's rhetoric about building "grand temples" - said he believed voters were more worried about Covid, jobs and rising prices. Mr Yadav, who has tied up with Jayant Chaudhary and the Rashtriya Lok Dal, also played down talk of his returning as Chief Minister with Mr Chaudhary as his deputy, telling NDTV "leave these issues to us... we will manage our alliance". At the same rally, Mr Chaudhary hit out at the BJP for failing to deliver a promised "70 lakh jobs", and said "the people are with us... we've been on the road wiping away their tears".
