, the Akali Dal-BJP combine in Punjab and the BJP on its own in Uttarakhand on Tuesday looked all set to wrest power from the Congress in the assembly elections, while in Manipur appeared to be heading for a hung assembly.
Out of 38 results declared in the 117-member Assembly, the SAD-BJP combine was ahead with 24 seats, while the ruling the Congress was behind winning 13 seats. One seat went to an Independent. The lead positions indicated a clear majority for the Parkash Singh Badal-led alliance.
In the hill state of Uttarakhand, BJP appeared set to form the government on its own winning as many as nine seats and leading in 30 others in the 70-member House. Congress had bagged six seats so far and was ahead in only ten others.
In both the states, the Congress has conceded defeat admitting that price rise may have been one of the major reasons for the drubbing.
Eighty-year-old warhorse Parkash Singh Badal is all set to become chief minister for the fourth time in Punjab, while in Uttarakhand the race appears to have narrowed down between former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and former Union Minister B C Khanduri, who did not contest the election.
The northeastern state of Manipur witnessed an intense battle where Congress was ahead winning six seats out of the 17 seats declared so far. On the other side, the NCP has won four, RJD two, CPI two, Manipur Peoples' Party one and Independents two
{{/usCountry}}The northeastern state of Manipur witnessed an intense battle where Congress was ahead winning six seats out of the 17 seats declared so far. On the other side, the NCP has won four, RJD two, CPI two, Manipur Peoples' Party one and Independents two
{{/usCountry}}Riding an anti-incumbency wave.