The tensest moment of this year\u2019s biggest assembly elections covering five states \u2013 Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa is underway as the counting of votes started at 8 am.<\/p>\n
Earlier, most exit polls had predicted a huge victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, an advantage in Uttarakhand, and a close contest in Goa. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) could make a huge leap in Punjab as exit polls have suggested a massive victory, with one pollster predicting up to 111 for Arvind Kejriwal\u2019s party in 117-member assembly. Congress will be gambling against the exit poll results for Punjab, where it is incumbent, and hoping that the close fight in Goa and Uttarakhand, as predicted by the pollsters rides in its favor.<\/p>\n
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has built on its early leads and seems to be taking a massive lead over its main rival Samajwadi Party. According to the latest trend, BJP is leading on over 150 seats while Samajwadi is leading on 48. Bahujan Samaj Party and Congress are leading on four seats each.<\/p>\n
BJP surges ahead in Uttarakhand, where trends show saffron party ahead in 47 seats, well over the majority mark of 36. While BJP crosses halfway mark, Congress’ Harish Rawat trails.The Bharatiya Janata Party\u00a0 is leading on 47 seats, while the Congress, is leading only on 17 seats.<\/p>\n
AAP gains an edge over Congress, leading on 18 seats in contrast to the Congress, which is ahead on 6 seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal-led alliance and the BJP-led coalition is ahead on 7 and 3 seats, respectively.\u00a0 Captain Amarinder Singh trailing against AAP’s Ajitpal Kohli<\/p>\n
In Manipur, BJP prepares for celebrations at party office as counting begins\u00a0where many exit polls predicted a clear win for the Bharatiya Janata Party, the party has begun preparations for celebrations before the first vote was counted. In contrast, the Manipur Congress office wore a deserted look, indicative of the state unit\u2019s expectations.<\/p>\n
Early numbers in Goa reveal that the BJP is leading in Goa in 20 assembly constituencies, while Congress is leading in 19 seats. TMC is leading in 5 seats.<\/p>\n
In 2017, the Congress had emerged as the single largest party, winning 17 seats but the BJP, which won 13 seats, managed to form the government with the support of the Goa Forward Party and the MGP which had won three seats each, and two independents.<\/p>\n
In order to avoid repeating the 2017 fiasco, the Congress shifted all the candidates who had contested the Assembly polls to a luxury resort in Bambolim village near Panaji on Tuesday evening, indicating the government formation may be complicated.<\/p>\n
Congress leader P Chidambaram held a meeting with the Goa Assembly poll candidates of his party and those of ally GFP on Wednesday night, where it was decided that the alliance will name its leader after the election results are out and stake claim for government formation, PTI reported.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, sitting BJP Goa CM Pramod Sawant travelled to Delhi Tuesday to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Congress on Wednesday said that talks were underway with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for gaining support for government formation in Goa if there was a hung Assembly.<\/p>\n