Almost all exit polls predict that the Samajwadi Party (SP) would be the single largest party in the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly, but would not have the numbers to form a government on its own and would have to seek the help of an ally. If those negotiations don’t work out, the state could be headed for the President’s rule.
According to exit polls, SP could get between 160 and 185 seats and the tally of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) could see a drop in the state elections, the results of which are likely to be out on March 6. Some pollsters say BSP’s strength may fall to less than 100 seats from 206 in 2007.
They say there is a keen contest between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the number-three spot. However, the consensus is that no party would come to power on its own and the state is heading for a coalition government.
No exit poll suggested that the Assembly would be so hung as to preclude the formation of a government or lead to the imposition of the President’s rule. However, the assessment indicated that no single party would be in a position to form a government on its own, lending credence to the reports that serious negotiations would be required on the night of March 6 to get support for the formation of a coalition. (THE BALLOT BATTLE)
Television channel News24 said the Congress was heading for a majority in Punjab (60 seats, up from 44 in 2007), while its majority in Uttarakhand would be wafer-thin.
In Punjab, the Shiromani Akali Dal, which came to power in 2007 with 67 seats, was likely to get just 52 seats in the 117-member Assembly, the channel said.
News24 exit poll showed, in the 68-member in Uttarakhand Assembly, the Congress could get 30 seats, compared to arch rival BJP’s 28. In the 2007 elections, Congress and BJP had got 21 and 34 seats, respectively. Exit polls suggested BSP could emerge as a powerful force in the state. It could bag 12 seats along with other parties.
Star News would telecast the results of its Punjab exit poll tomorrow. Congress leader and general secretary in charge of UP, Digvijay Singh reacted to the exit poll results with contempt. He said these surveys had been proved wrong in the past, adding that the Congress could either win a majority or sit in the Opposition.
Following exit poll results, no party has opened its cards on alliance partners yet.
