The much-watched Assembly election results in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana and Mizoram, dubbed as the semi-finals before next year's Lok Sabha polls, will be declared on Tuesday.
Much is at stake for the BJP, which is ruling in three of the five states and wants to retain these, at least, amidst the hopes of the Congress to dislodge the saffron party.
The BJP has been in power in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh for the last 15 years and has been ruling Rajasthan for the last five years.
Other two states where the elections were held were Telangana and Mizoram.
Elections to the Assemblies in these states were held in phases from November 12 to December 17.
Going by a number of exit polls, it appears that BJP may not have a smooth sailing in MP, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.
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If the Congress actually manages to defeat the BJP in these three states, it will give a boost to the opposition camp ahead of the Lok Sabha elections due by May next year.
However, if the BJP retains power in these states, it will further underline the dominance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In Rajasthan, where 200 seats are at stake, three exit polls have predicted a clear edge for the Congress, making the Opposition party upbeat.
While Times Now-CNX gave Congress 105 seats and 85 to BJP; India Today-Axis My India predicted 119 to 141 for the Congress and 55-72 for the BJP.
Today's Chanakya too forecast about 123 seats for the Congress, with a plus-minus of 12. It predicted 68 seats for the BJP, again with a plus-minus of 12 and gave eight to others.
On the other hand, the Republic-C Voter poll gave Congress 81-101 and 83-103 to the BJP. The half-way mark in the state is 101.
For MP, Times Now-CNX predicted that the ruling BJP would be back in power with 126 seats in the 230-member Assembly while the Congress is expected to get 89, which is 27 short the majority figure.
India Today-Axis My India predicted 104-122 for Congress and 102-126 for the BJP. Republic TV-Jan ki Baat poll predicted 95-115 for Congress and 108-128 for BJP.
India News MP-Neta predicted 112 seats for Congress and 106 for BJP.
However, Today's Chanakya has stuck out its neck to say that the Congress would have it easy with 125 seats (plus-minus 12 seats) while the BJP is expected to get about 103 (plus-minus 12).
Similarly, in Chhattisgarh where just like MP, the BJP is looking forward for a fourth straight term, the Exit Polls threw mixed indications for the 90 seats that are at stake.
Times Now-CNX predicted BJP would retain power with 46 seats, which is a majority mark and predicted 35 seats for the Congress, while giving 7 to the BSP and its ally. India TV predicted 42-50 seats for the BJP, 32-38 for the Congress, 6-8 for BSP and 1-3 for others.
However, Republic-C Voter predicted 40-50 seats for the Congress and 35-43 for BJP. It gave 3-7 to BSP and ally. News Nation poll suggested 40-44 for the Congress and 38-42 for the BJP. It gave 4-8 to BSP and 0-4 to others. News 24-Pace Media predicted 45-51 seats for the Congress, 36-42 for the BJP and 4-8 for others.
Similarly, Today's Chanakya predicted a whopping 50 for the Congress (plus minus 8) and 36 for the BJP (plus minus 8) while giving 4 to others including BSP.
As regards Telangana, where 119 seats are up for grabs, most of the exit polls have given a clean sweep to K. Chandrashekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).
Times Now-CNX projected a clean sweep for TRS with 66 seats, and gave 37 to Congress, 7 to BJP and 9 to others. Republic TV-Jan Ki baat gave TRS 50-65 seats, 38-52 to Congress, 4-7 to BJP and 8-14 to others. The majority mark is 60.
In Mizoram, though the exit polls indicated that Mizo National Front (MNF) will emerge as the single largest party in the 40-member Assembly, it may still not be able to cross the half way mark.
In this north eastern state, the Congress, led by Lal Thanhawla, has been in power for the last ten years.
There are strong indications for a hung Assembly, for the first time ever since the state was formed in 1987.
Times Now-CNX has predicted 18 seats for MNF, 16 for the Congress and 6 for others. Similarly, India-Today-My India Exit Polls have predicted 16-22 seats for MNF, 8-12 for Congress and Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) alliance and 1-4 for others. The BJP in the state, according to the Exit Polls, will not make any dent to the big players.
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