Lucknow: The caste arithmetic in Uttar Pradesh has fallen flat on its face and the SP-BSP-RLD alliance has nothing left to cheer about. The alliance that was forged in January this year had claimed to trounce the BJP in Uttar Pradesh and, thereby, halt its return to power. The alliance with less than 20 seats has been left powerless. Brand Modi has dissolved that caste arithmetic.

The Samajwadi Party that was reeling under the impact of the prolonged family feud, stitched up the alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party, putting aside the hostilities of the past. Its arithmetic was simple -- 40 percent OBCs and 21 percent Dalits in the state would come together to write history.