Bjp Tries To Shore Up Centre After Drubbing In States

While the trends of the election results indicate a dismal performance by the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Punjab, the NDA is charting a strategy to obviate an adverse fallout on the Centre.

The results are expected to consolidate the Opposition in Parliament, which may create obstacles to Bills, especially those relating to reforms. And, the BJP's dwindling numbers in the three state assemblies will alter the composition of the electoral college for the presidential election.

The party lost its edge over the rivals in UP and was pushed to the third position. Similarly, Uttaranchal, a state carved out by the BJP government, has opted for the Congress.

In Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), a constituent of the NDA, retained a respectable position, though the Congress got a majority. The party proved the pollsters wrong. The latter predicted SAD would be wiped out.

The party