SAD, BJP win Punjab, Uttarakhand

 "I am feeling good. People have entrusted a big responsibility on us, and I seek co-operation of everybody including the people, opposition, media and of course, blessings of the Almighty," Badal, who appeared set to become Chief Minister of the state for the fourth time, told reporters.

 He attributed the loss of some seats to the diktat of a religious group, Dera Sacha Sauda, asking the voters to vote for the Congress.

 Badal also expressed satisfaction over BJP's performance, but declined to comment on what would be SAD's approach if the saffron party asks for Deputy Chief Ministership. "It is still too early to say anything on this. Moreover, they (BJP) are yet to talk to us in this regard," he said.

 Dehradun: In Uttarakhand, elections were held for 69 seats out of the total of 70 seats. Results declared: 68; BJP: 33; Cong: 21; BSP: 8; UKD: 3; and  Independents: 3

The BJP today said with Congress voted out from power in Uttarakhand, over 300 lal battis or ministerial-level posts that became a big issue in the assembly polls have also become powerless.

"All the 300 lal battis have been fused in Uttarakhand," said an elated BJP state president Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

The issue was taken up in a big way by the BJP during electioneering after Chief Minister N D Tiwari distributed over 300 ministerial-level posts to Congress leaders in the state.

Three Congress leaders with ministerial ranks were allegedly involved in sex and other scandals. "We only saw lal battis during the five-year tenure of the Congress," said Koshiyari, adding the BJP would not distribute "lal battis" in bulk in the state.