Punjab, Manipur and Goa may go Congress way
BJP heads for landslinde victory in UP and Uttarakhand, SP, BSP and Congress set for worst ever poll debacle in UP, BJP likely to secure two third majority in both the States.
The hard fought poll battle in five states reaches its climax today with the counting of votes underway for assembly polls from at 8 am.
The Election Commission has made all necessary preparations for the counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa.
BJP all set to come back to power after a gap of 14 years in the crucial Hindi heartland of UP with strong show in the hill state of Uttarakhand while the Congress is marching ahead in Punjab and Goa as early trends of five Assembly polls indicate.
According to the initial leads available for 328 seats, the BJP was ahead in 231 while the SP and Congress combine was behind with 70 seats. The BSP of Ms Mayawati was leading in 29 constituencies. On the other hand, Punjab was heading to the Congress where the party has established early leads in 61 out of 108 seats from where the trends were available.
The Aam Aadmi Party, a new entrant in the Punjab politics, was also making its presence felt in 21 seats where its candidates were ahead of opponents. In the hill state of Uttarakhand, the BJP w
as ahead in 52 out of 64 seats from where the trends trickled in. In Goa, the Congress and the BJP were tightly placed with leads in 8 and 7 seats respectively. The Congress was also ahead in Manipur, where the party candidates were leading in 12 out of 23
Meanwhile Adequate security and other arrangements have been made in coordination with the state administrations.
Trends are expected to be available by 11 AM and by 12 noon, a final picture could emerge on who would be the major players in the five states.
Counting of votes locked in EVMs will begin from 8 AM on to determine what shape the Assemblies of five states- Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, would take.
75 counting centers have been set up in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh. The state had voted in seven phases for 403 seats.
The Western state of Goa is all prepared for verdict day to the 40 member assembly. Two counting centers have been set up in the state.