Congress tonight appeared on course to form government in Uttarakhand after it took a wafer-thin one seat advantage over ruling BJP in a cliff-hanger of a contest in state assembly polls.
Out of all the 70 results, Congress won 32 seats--four short of majority in the 70-member House--and ruling BJP followed closely with 31 seats.
Congress sources said the party would seek the support from three successful independent candidates as well as UKD, which won one seat, for government-making.
BSP won three seats and could also hold the to government formation in the state.
As Congress emerged as the single largest party, a delegation of the party called on Governor Margaret Alva late this evening and staked claim to form new government. Congress has also convened a meeting of the CLP tomorrow, party sources said.
The biggest setback for BJP came when chief minister BC Khanduri, who led the party at the hustings, was defeated by SS Negi of Congress from Kotdwar seat by 4632 votes.
He is the first Chief Minister who lost the elections in the 12-year history of the state carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000.