New Delhi: Ruling BJP is set to return to power in Uttar Pradesh with a comfortable majority on the 403-member Assembly, according to a pre-poll survey conducted by Times Now channel. 

According to the opinion poll, BJP is likely to retain to power in Uttar Pradesh by winning 227-254 Assembly seats. Akhilesh Yadav's Samajwadi Party and its alliance partners are likely to win 136-151 seats. 

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Benhenji Mayawati is projected to win only 8-14 segments. Congress is projected to win 6-11 seats, according to the opinion poll. 

Yogi Adityanath is the most preferred chief ministerial candidate in Uttar Pradesh, 53.4 per cent of the total respondents of the Times Now survey said. While 31.5 per cent wanted Akhilesh Yadav to rule the state, 11.5 felt Mayawati is the best choice to head the next UP government. Notably, only 2.5 per cent wanted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as the CM of UP.  

To the question of whether people were satisfied with Yogi Adityanath's work in Uttar Pradesh, 47.41 per cent of the respondents said YES, 41.20 per cent said NO while 11.39 per cent were undecided. 

UP Assembly elections are scheduled to be held from 10 February to 7 March 2022 in seven phases to elect all 403 members of the Legislative Assembly. The votes will be counted and the results will be declared on 10 March 2022.