LUCKNOW.March 6, 2012: The Samajwadi Party is inching towards simple majority in Uttar Pradesh and is likely to form the next government in the state.According to the leads from all the 403 seats, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party is leading in close to 200 seats. Counting is underway in all the 403 seats and all results are expected by evening.If the leads convert into results, the SP will be in a position to form the government even without the support of the Congress. Smaller parties and independent candidates may play a crucial role in case of a hung assembly.The BSP is expected to remain second despite a loss of over 100 seats in comparison to the 206 it got in 2007.Congress and BJP are likely to improve but are fighting for third and fourth place.Congress's ally RLD is also expected to increase its number.While SP seems to be getting support across the state and all castes and communities, BSP has suffered losses everywhere but seems to have retained its Dalit base. However, Mayawati's social engineering failed as Brahmins and Muslims do not seem to have vote for BSP in large number as they did in 2007. Congress and BJP seem to have has excelled in some pockets of UP.While celebrations have begun in SP head quarters in Lucknow, an eerie silence prevailed in BSP head office and gates were closed for visitors. Disappointment was palpable in Congress office, whereas BJP camp was hopeful of getting more than 100 seats, double of what it got in 2007.
Reacting to result trends, SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said that people have voted against five years of misrule in UP. He said that SP is gaining because it took up public cause for five years while sitting in opposition. He said that people also compared SP's previous rule with the present incumbent and found former better.UP Congress president Rita Bahugana Joshi said that though her party does not seems to be doing well, it would improve its tally. She said there is a strong anti-incumbency wave against Mayawati regime.Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said that Rahul Gandhi created a favourable atmosphere for the party through his work and campaign in UP. But, he said, party could not convert it into seats because of absence of party cadre at the ground level. He claimed that in any case Congress would emerge as key player in UP.
BJP national vice president and candidate from Lucknow East Kalraj Mishra said that party would do better than 2007. He admitted that induction of sacked BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is prime accused in NRHM scam and has been arrested by CBI, damaged BJP's prospect upto some extent in UP. Mishra said that though Kushwaha's membership was suspended after stiff opposition of his induction within the party, it dented BJP's attack on Mayawati on the issue of corruption.What seems to have gone in favour of SP is its image makeover by star campaigner party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh. Previous SP rule in 2003-07 was known for poor law and order but Akhilesh promised to change the order this time. While Mulayam worked to get back muslims who were angry after he shook hands with Kalyan Singh in 2009, Akhilesh worked to woo different castes and communities. He was also able to attract youth.Congress campaign in UP had created hope of party's revival in the state. The 4.5% quota for minorities helped party to make inroads in Muslim community which can tilt balance iin 140 seats in the state. However, during elections, contradictory statements of Congress leaders on Batla house encounter and infighting damaged party's prospects.BJP was in a miserable state at the start of election but entry of fire brand Hindutava leader Uma Bharti galvanized cadre and brought party back in contest. BJP was also able to polarize votes on communal lines at few places on the issue of Muslim quota.Uma Bharti, who was brought from Madhya Pradesh to campaign in UP, was fielded by BJP from Charkhari seat in Bundelkhand. Uma factor seems to have worked as BJP is leading in half of total 19 seats in Bundelkhand. Congress also doing well in Bundelkhand. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had started his mission UP from Bundelkhand in 2007. He was instrumental in getting over Rs 3000 crore development package for drought prone region.
Election results 2012: SAD-BJP alliance leading in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: The SAD-BJP alliance is leading in over 60 seats out of the total 117 assembly constituencies.The Congress has caught up and is leading in about 50 assembly constituencies while Independents were leading in three constituencies of Mukerian and Amargarh, according to trends available so far. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh has retained the Patiala constituency by defeating ruling SAD's Surjit Singh Kohli by a margin of 42,318 votes.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that emerging results in Punjab, where it was trailing behind the ruling Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine, were "extremely baffling".Chief ministerial aspirant Parkash Singh Badal is leading from Lambi .
Amarinder' son Raninder was trailing from Samana assembly constituency.
MORE RESULTS
Gulzar Singh Ranike of SAD defeats Tarsem Singh of Congress by a margin of 4983 votes in Attari (SC) seat.
Rajpura, Hardial Singh of Congress beats BJP's Raj Khurana by a margin of 31,510 votes.
SAD's Nand Lal beats Tarsem Singh of the Congress by a margin of 4983 votes from Balachaur constituency.
From Amritsar Central, O P Soni of Congress defeats nearest rival Tarun Chugh of BJP by a margin of 12,797 votes. Congress candidate Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu wins Talwandi Sabo seat by defeating his nearest rival Amarjeet Singh Sidhu of SAD by a margin of 8524 votes. Badal senior's estranged nephew Manpreet, who formed the People's Party of Punjab Loses from Maur assembly seat, SAD candidate Janmeja Sekhon wins by 1388 votes. The other key leaders include Hockey Olympian Pargat Singh (SAD- Jalandhar Cantt), Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur (SAD- Sultanpur Lodhi), Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress-Lehra) and BJP MP Navjot Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur from Amritsar East.
Elections results 2012: BJP, Cong in neck-and-neck race in Uttarakhand
DEHRA DUN, A neck-and-neck race is on in Uttarakhand in the 70-member Assembly.
Both the Congress and the BJP were leading in about the same number of seats. The latest trends from Uttarakhand showed that Congress was leading in 31 seats and BJP followed closely with 25.
BSP was leading in five seats while Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-Panwar (UKD-P) was leading in one seat while others were ahead in the rest of the five seats.
Chief minister B C Khanduri was trailing from Kotdwar seat by 90 votes against S S Negi of Congress.
Congress leader Indira Haridayesh was leading with 4000 votes from Haldwani constituency against Renu Adhikari of BJP.
However, state BJP president Bishan Singh Chufal was leading by 688 votes from Didihaat constituency.
Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat said his party will get "comfortable majority" in Uttarakhand to form government on its own.
"As far as chief ministership is concerned, that will be decided by the party. But Congress will form the government in Uttarakhand that I am confident. We will form the government with the quite good margin," Rawat, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, said.
The Congress leader expressed full faith in the wisdom of the people of the state and said that Congress will get comfortable majority. To a question whether he will be made chief minister of the state in case Congress is voted to power, the Congress party leader said, "Harish Rawat is a humble soldier. Our focus is on the future. Congress traditionally does not project a leader where we are not in power".
PANAJI: The BJP has forged ahead in the Goa with 11 of the party's candidates being declared winners, while the ruling Congress seems to be headed for a drubbing with just two wins so far. The BJP is also leading in several other constituencies, though the exact details are awaited. The counting for 40 seats is in progress in two centres in Panaji and Margao. Among the big losers in the Congress party were former vice president of BCCI, Dayanand Narvekar, power minister, Aleixo Sequeira and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, Subhash Shirodkar. Among the big winners are Mickey Pacheco of the Goa Vikas Party (GVP) who defeated Sequeira in Nuvem constituency. Rebel Congress candidate Vijay Sardesai (Independent) defeated his BJP rival and sitting MLA, Damu Naik and Congress nominee, M K Shaikh in Fatorda constituency.In a blow to the Alemao family, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao lost to first time candidate Rajan Naik of the BJP. Churchill Alemao's daughter Valanka Alemao too lost the contest to Caetano De Silva of the Goa Vikas Party in Benaulim. Anant Shet of the BJP won in Mayem defeating Rudresh Chodankar of the NCP and Independent Praveen Zantye.Mauvin Godinho of the Congress won from the newly carved out Dabolim constituency defeating his nearest rival Premanand Nanoskar of the MGP.
The Congress lost out in eight constituencies while BJP gained new seats in Calangute, Sanvordem, Cuncolim, Tivim, Aldona and Curchorem but lost in Fatorda.
Election results: Congress set to retain power in Manipur
Reacting to result trends, SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said that people have voted against five years of misrule in UP. He said that SP is gaining because it took up public cause for five years while sitting in opposition. He said that people also compared SP's previous rule with the present incumbent and found former better.UP Congress president Rita Bahugana Joshi said that though her party does not seems to be doing well, it would improve its tally. She said there is a strong anti-incumbency wave against Mayawati regime.Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said that Rahul Gandhi created a favourable atmosphere for the party through his work and campaign in UP. But, he said, party could not convert it into seats because of absence of party cadre at the ground level. He claimed that in any case Congress would emerge as key player in UP.
BJP national vice president and candidate from Lucknow East Kalraj Mishra said that party would do better than 2007. He admitted that induction of sacked BSP minister Babu Singh Kushwaha, who is prime accused in NRHM scam and has been arrested by CBI, damaged BJP's prospect upto some extent in UP. Mishra said that though Kushwaha's membership was suspended after stiff opposition of his induction within the party, it dented BJP's attack on Mayawati on the issue of corruption.What seems to have gone in favour of SP is its image makeover by star campaigner party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son Akhilesh. Previous SP rule in 2003-07 was known for poor law and order but Akhilesh promised to change the order this time. While Mulayam worked to get back muslims who were angry after he shook hands with Kalyan Singh in 2009, Akhilesh worked to woo different castes and communities. He was also able to attract youth.Congress campaign in UP had created hope of party's revival in the state. The 4.5% quota for minorities helped party to make inroads in Muslim community which can tilt balance iin 140 seats in the state. However, during elections, contradictory statements of Congress leaders on Batla house encounter and infighting damaged party's prospects.BJP was in a miserable state at the start of election but entry of fire brand Hindutava leader Uma Bharti galvanized cadre and brought party back in contest. BJP was also able to polarize votes on communal lines at few places on the issue of Muslim quota.Uma Bharti, who was brought from Madhya Pradesh to campaign in UP, was fielded by BJP from Charkhari seat in Bundelkhand. Uma factor seems to have worked as BJP is leading in half of total 19 seats in Bundelkhand. Congress also doing well in Bundelkhand. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi had started his mission UP from Bundelkhand in 2007. He was instrumental in getting over Rs 3000 crore development package for drought prone region.
Election results 2012: SAD-BJP alliance leading in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: The SAD-BJP alliance is leading in over 60 seats out of the total 117 assembly constituencies.The Congress has caught up and is leading in about 50 assembly constituencies while Independents were leading in three constituencies of Mukerian and Amargarh, according to trends available so far. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh has retained the Patiala constituency by defeating ruling SAD's Surjit Singh Kohli by a margin of 42,318 votes.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that emerging results in Punjab, where it was trailing behind the ruling Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine, were "extremely baffling".Chief ministerial aspirant Parkash Singh Badal is leading from Lambi .
Amarinder' son Raninder was trailing from Samana assembly constituency.
MORE RESULTS
Gulzar Singh Ranike of SAD defeats Tarsem Singh of Congress by a margin of 4983 votes in Attari (SC) seat.
Rajpura, Hardial Singh of Congress beats BJP's Raj Khurana by a margin of 31,510 votes.
SAD's Nand Lal beats Tarsem Singh of the Congress by a margin of 4983 votes from Balachaur constituency.
From Amritsar Central, O P Soni of Congress defeats nearest rival Tarun Chugh of BJP by a margin of 12,797 votes. Congress candidate Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu wins Talwandi Sabo seat by defeating his nearest rival Amarjeet Singh Sidhu of SAD by a margin of 8524 votes. Badal senior's estranged nephew Manpreet, who formed the People's Party of Punjab Loses from Maur assembly seat, SAD candidate Janmeja Sekhon wins by 1388 votes. The other key leaders include Hockey Olympian Pargat Singh (SAD- Jalandhar Cantt), Finance Minister Upinderjit Kaur (SAD- Sultanpur Lodhi), Rajinder Kaur Bhattal (Congress-Lehra) and BJP MP Navjot Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur from Amritsar East.
Elections results 2012: BJP, Cong in neck-and-neck race in Uttarakhand
DEHRA DUN, A neck-and-neck race is on in Uttarakhand in the 70-member Assembly.
Both the Congress and the BJP were leading in about the same number of seats. The latest trends from Uttarakhand showed that Congress was leading in 31 seats and BJP followed closely with 25.
BSP was leading in five seats while Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-Panwar (UKD-P) was leading in one seat while others were ahead in the rest of the five seats.
Chief minister B C Khanduri was trailing from Kotdwar seat by 90 votes against S S Negi of Congress.
Congress leader Indira Haridayesh was leading with 4000 votes from Haldwani constituency against Renu Adhikari of BJP.
However, state BJP president Bishan Singh Chufal was leading by 688 votes from Didihaat constituency.
Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat said his party will get "comfortable majority" in Uttarakhand to form government on its own.
"As far as chief ministership is concerned, that will be decided by the party. But Congress will form the government in Uttarakhand that I am confident. We will form the government with the quite good margin," Rawat, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, said.
The Congress leader expressed full faith in the wisdom of the people of the state and said that Congress will get comfortable majority. To a question whether he will be made chief minister of the state in case Congress is voted to power, the Congress party leader said, "Harish Rawat is a humble soldier. Our focus is on the future. Congress traditionally does not project a leader where we are not in power".
PANAJI: The BJP has forged ahead in the Goa with 11 of the party's candidates being declared winners, while the ruling Congress seems to be headed for a drubbing with just two wins so far. The BJP is also leading in several other constituencies, though the exact details are awaited. The counting for 40 seats is in progress in two centres in Panaji and Margao. Among the big losers in the Congress party were former vice president of BCCI, Dayanand Narvekar, power minister, Aleixo Sequeira and Goa Pradesh Congress Committee president, Subhash Shirodkar. Among the big winners are Mickey Pacheco of the Goa Vikas Party (GVP) who defeated Sequeira in Nuvem constituency. Rebel Congress candidate Vijay Sardesai (Independent) defeated his BJP rival and sitting MLA, Damu Naik and Congress nominee, M K Shaikh in Fatorda constituency.In a blow to the Alemao family, Urban Development Minister Joaquim Alemao lost to first time candidate Rajan Naik of the BJP. Churchill Alemao's daughter Valanka Alemao too lost the contest to Caetano De Silva of the Goa Vikas Party in Benaulim. Anant Shet of the BJP won in Mayem defeating Rudresh Chodankar of the NCP and Independent Praveen Zantye.Mauvin Godinho of the Congress won from the newly carved out Dabolim constituency defeating his nearest rival Premanand Nanoskar of the MGP.
The Congress lost out in eight constituencies while BJP gained new seats in Calangute, Sanvordem, Cuncolim, Tivim, Aldona and Curchorem but lost in Fatorda.
Election results: Congress set to retain power in Manipur