1996 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election

The 1996 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election was held between March 1 and March 3, 1996, to elect members to the 403 constituencies of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly. This election marked a significant political event in one of India's most populous states, following the dissolution of the assembly in 1995. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Kalyan Singh, emerged as the dominant party, securing a majority and forming the government. The election witnessed a multi-cornered contest among major political parties, including the Indian National Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Voter turnout was notably high, reflecting intense public engagement in the electoral process amid a backdrop of rising regionalism and caste-based politics in the state.