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BJP 'admits Indian poll defeat' BJP 'admits Indian poll defeat'
(10 minutes later)
Leaders of India's main opposition BJP have admitted defeat in the general election as counting trends show the ruling Congress alliance well ahead.Leaders of India's main opposition BJP have admitted defeat in the general election as counting trends show the ruling Congress alliance well ahead.
One BJP leader, Balbir Punj, said: "We have learnt our lesson." The Third Front has also conceded the election.One BJP leader, Balbir Punj, said: "We have learnt our lesson." The Third Front has also conceded the election.
Official results will flood in soon but the trends reported by state TV showed Congress ahead in 245 seats, the BJP in 160 and the Third Front in 60.Official results will flood in soon but the trends reported by state TV showed Congress ahead in 245 seats, the BJP in 160 and the Third Front in 60.
Congress supporters have already begun celebrating in Delhi.Congress supporters have already begun celebrating in Delhi.
BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters the party had not expected this kind of result. "We will sit together later today, once all the results are out, and analyse what happened," he said. Rajnath Singh, president of the Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, told reporters it had not expected this kind of result. "We will sit together later today, once all the results are out, and analyse what happened," he said.
Another BJP leader, Ravi Shankar Prasad, told the BBC: "We have lost." Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said: "Our performance was not up to expectation... We accept the people's mandate gracefully."
Prakash Karat, the leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the key mover in the Third Front accepted Congress had won. Prakash Karat, the leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the key mover in the Third Front, accepted Congress had won.
"The CPM and the Left parties have suffered a major setback," he said."The CPM and the Left parties have suffered a major setback," he said.
The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says that a small crowd has already gathered outside Congress headquarters to celebrate, banging drums and chanting slogans.The BBC's Chris Morris in Delhi says that a small crowd has already gathered outside Congress headquarters to celebrate, banging drums and chanting slogans.
'Safe majority''Safe majority'
Counting began at 0800 local time (0230 GMT) and with electronic voting machines being used the first trends were quickly available.Counting began at 0800 local time (0230 GMT) and with electronic voting machines being used the first trends were quickly available.
INDIAN ELECTION AT A GLANCE Eligible voters: 714 millionPolling centres: 828,804Voting days: 16, 23, 30 April; 7, 13 MayVote counting: 16 May Elections battleground mapINDIAN ELECTION AT A GLANCE Eligible voters: 714 millionPolling centres: 828,804Voting days: 16, 23, 30 April; 7, 13 MayVote counting: 16 May Elections battleground map
State television Doordarshan said that at 1230 local time across all 543 seats, the Congress alliance was ahead in 245, the BJP coalition in 160 and the Third Front in 60 with others at 78.State television Doordarshan said that at 1230 local time across all 543 seats, the Congress alliance was ahead in 245, the BJP coalition in 160 and the Third Front in 60 with others at 78.
Congress appears to be doing far better than had been expected, confounding predictions particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.Congress appears to be doing far better than had been expected, confounding predictions particularly in Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Congress alliance spokesman Kapil Sibal told Reuters news agency: "Together with our alliance partners, we will have a safe majority."Congress alliance spokesman Kapil Sibal told Reuters news agency: "Together with our alliance partners, we will have a safe majority."
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The counting should be swift and the results known quicklyThe counting should be swift and the results known quickly
The BJP's Mr Punj told Indian media: "The results are unexpected. We are disappointed with the results. We have learnt our lesson."The BJP's Mr Punj told Indian media: "The results are unexpected. We are disappointed with the results. We have learnt our lesson."
Left-wing parties appear to be suffering major reverses in West Bengal and Kerala and the party of Dalit leader Mayawati is doing badly in Uttar Pradesh.Left-wing parties appear to be suffering major reverses in West Bengal and Kerala and the party of Dalit leader Mayawati is doing badly in Uttar Pradesh.
Senior leftist leader Sitaram Yechury said: "It's the people's verdict."Senior leftist leader Sitaram Yechury said: "It's the people's verdict."
Only a few results have been confirmed so far - they included a win for former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor for Congress in Kerala's capital, Trivandrum.Only a few results have been confirmed so far - they included a win for former UN diplomat Shashi Tharoor for Congress in Kerala's capital, Trivandrum.
Since polling ended on Wednesday, the two main parties have been involved in a series of political meetings, scrambling to gain pledges of support in a predicted hung parliament.Since polling ended on Wednesday, the two main parties have been involved in a series of political meetings, scrambling to gain pledges of support in a predicted hung parliament.
The results in Andhra Pradesh could be crucial overallThe results in Andhra Pradesh could be crucial overall
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says there had been suggestions that both the Congress and BJP were losing relevance in India, ceding political space to smaller, local parties.The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says there had been suggestions that both the Congress and BJP were losing relevance in India, ceding political space to smaller, local parties.
But a major defeat for the BJP's LK Advani would certainly spell the end of his political career, he says.But a major defeat for the BJP's LK Advani would certainly spell the end of his political career, he says.
The main thrust of the Congress manifesto is on economic recovery and boosting growth while the BJP has focused on easing taxation and recovering money illegally stashed abroad.The main thrust of the Congress manifesto is on economic recovery and boosting growth while the BJP has focused on easing taxation and recovering money illegally stashed abroad.
The prime movers of the Third Front are the leftist parties and the BSP of Mayawati.The prime movers of the Third Front are the leftist parties and the BSP of Mayawati.
President's rolePresident's role
Security was tight in a number of areas ahead of the results announcement.Security was tight in a number of areas ahead of the results announcement.
Could Manmohan Singh be set for another term as PM?Could Manmohan Singh be set for another term as PM?
Meetings of five or more people have been banned across Rajasthan and victory processions barred in Uttar Pradesh.Meetings of five or more people have been banned across Rajasthan and victory processions barred in Uttar Pradesh.
After the counting the focus will fall on President Pratibha Patil.After the counting the focus will fall on President Pratibha Patil.
There are no rules in the constitution on who she can invite to form a government. It could be the single largest party or most dominant coalition. She may ask for documented pledges of support.There are no rules in the constitution on who she can invite to form a government. It could be the single largest party or most dominant coalition. She may ask for documented pledges of support.
Turnout for the election has been put at about 60%, compared with 58% in 2004.Turnout for the election has been put at about 60%, compared with 58% in 2004.
Security has so far generally been considered a success, although about 60 people lost their lives, mostly in Maoist violence.Security has so far generally been considered a success, although about 60 people lost their lives, mostly in Maoist violence.
India's new 543-seat parliament, with a new government in place, is supposed to sit by 2 June.India's new 543-seat parliament, with a new government in place, is supposed to sit by 2 June.
Will you be following the results as the votes are counted? What are your hopes for the election result? Send us your views.Will you be following the results as the votes are counted? What are your hopes for the election result? Send us your views.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions