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Congress setback in crucial India Uttar Pradesh polls Congress setback in crucial India Uttar Pradesh polls
(about 2 hours later)
India's governing Congress party has suffered a major setback as votes are counted in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. India's governing Congress party has suffered a major setback in elections in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.
The regional Samajwadi Party appears headed for a landslide - it has won 194 seats and is leading in another 29. The state has 403 seats. Congress party star Rahul Gandhi conceded defeat when it became clear that the regional Samajwadi Party had won a clear majority in the state.
Congress also looks set to lose in Punjab, while it is engaged in a neck-and-neck contest in Uttarakhand state. Congress had disappointing results in three other states, winning a clear majority only in Manipur.
These polls are seen as a litmus test for national elections due by 2014.These polls are seen as a litmus test for national elections due by 2014.
They are also seen as a test for the Congress party-led central government, whose credibility has been eroded in recent months over a series of corruption allegations. Congress had hoped that the scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty would deliver a victory in Uttar Pradesh that would revive the flagging fortunes of India's ruling party, dogged by high inflation, a slowdown in economic growth and allegations of corruption.
Manipur and Goa are the other states where counting is going on. Samajwadi took at least 220 seats out of the 403 in Uttar Pradesh's legislative assembly, while Congress languished in fourth with fewer than 30.
Blow to Congress Mayawati thrown out
The most important of the state elections has been in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which has more than 200 million people. Uttar Pradesh, in northern India, has a population of more than 200 million people, but is one of the country's least developed states.
The lane outside the offices of the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow is choked with traffic, dancing supporters and media broadcast vans. The crowds began gathering outside the offices of the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow as the first results started pouring in and gradually built up.
The crowds began gathering as the first results started pouring in and gradually built up.
As it became clear that Samajwadi was heading for a massive win, the celebrations became frenzied.As it became clear that Samajwadi was heading for a massive win, the celebrations became frenzied.
Firecrackers exploded in the air and on the ground, shrouding everyone with thick smoke. Excited supporters began dancing on the streets, accompanied by drummers dressed in the party colours.Firecrackers exploded in the air and on the ground, shrouding everyone with thick smoke. Excited supporters began dancing on the streets, accompanied by drummers dressed in the party colours.
Coloured powder was thrown on just about anyone - it seemed that Holi, the festival of colours, had arrived a couple of days early.Coloured powder was thrown on just about anyone - it seemed that Holi, the festival of colours, had arrived a couple of days early.
Inside, an equally large crowd chanted "netaji, netaji", referring to Mulayam Singh Yadav, the wrestler turned politician who is poised to become the state's new leader.Inside, an equally large crowd chanted "netaji, netaji", referring to Mulayam Singh Yadav, the wrestler turned politician who is poised to become the state's new leader.
Others raised posters of his son, Akhilesh, widely credited with the victory.Others raised posters of his son, Akhilesh, widely credited with the victory.
"Forget Rahul, Akhilesh is the yuvraj (crown prince)", one delirious supporter yelled as others cheered in approval. As for Congress - "They're finished," chuckled one man. The cheers grew louder."Forget Rahul, Akhilesh is the yuvraj (crown prince)", one delirious supporter yelled as others cheered in approval. As for Congress - "They're finished," chuckled one man. The cheers grew louder.
Politics in the state has been dominated in recent years by Mayawati, a low-caste Dalit who heads the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and has had four terms as chief minister. Politics has been dominated in recent years by Mayawati, a low-caste Dalit who heads the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and has had four terms as chief minister.
She has largely alternated in power with Mulayam Singh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party. It mainly represents the interests of a caste grouping called the Other Backward Classes.She has largely alternated in power with Mulayam Singh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party. It mainly represents the interests of a caste grouping called the Other Backward Classes.
With returns coming in from all the seats in the state, Samajwadi is on track to form a majority government - it has won 194 seats and is leading in 29 more. The ruling BSP is a distant second with 66 wins and leads in 14 seats. Samajwadi has won 220 seats and with almost all the returns in, was leading in another four, giving it a clear majority.
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won 43 seats and is leading in four more, while the Congress party is leading in six seats with 22 wins. The ruling BSP was a distant second with 76 seats and leads in another four.
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 45 seats and was leading in two more.
The Congress party took 26 seats and had the lead in two more - a scant increase from the 22 it currently holds.
'Credit to the people'
As the results came in, Samajwadi supporters danced in the street outside the party's headquarters in Lucknow, the state capital, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder.As the results came in, Samajwadi supporters danced in the street outside the party's headquarters in Lucknow, the state capital, says the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder.
Speaking to BBC Hindi's Ram Dutt Tripathi in Lucknow, Mr Yadav said: "The credit for our victory goes to the people, workers of the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh [Mr Yadav's son and heir apparent]."Speaking to BBC Hindi's Ram Dutt Tripathi in Lucknow, Mr Yadav said: "The credit for our victory goes to the people, workers of the Samajwadi Party and Akhilesh [Mr Yadav's son and heir apparent]."
The 72-year-old Samajwadi Party leader, who is now expected to lead the government in the state, said he would "try to meet all the expectations of the voters".The 72-year-old Samajwadi Party leader, who is now expected to lead the government in the state, said he would "try to meet all the expectations of the voters".
He said the party's legislative board would meet on Wednesday to elect the new chief minister.He said the party's legislative board would meet on Wednesday to elect the new chief minister.
Speaking in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi took responsibility for his party's disappointing results.Speaking in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi took responsibility for his party's disappointing results.
The scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is widely tipped to be India's next prime minister. He was not running in the state polls, but had led campaigning for Congress in Uttar Pradesh. He is widely tipped to be India's next prime minister. He was not running in the state polls, but had led campaigning for Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
"I led the campaign, so it's my responsibility, we fought well but the results are not that good," he said."I led the campaign, so it's my responsibility, we fought well but the results are not that good," he said.
"Organisationally we are not where we should be in UP [Uttar Pradesh]... I think it will be a very good lesson for me, because I think it will make me think about things in a detailed way.""Organisationally we are not where we should be in UP [Uttar Pradesh]... I think it will be a very good lesson for me, because I think it will make me think about things in a detailed way."
In Punjab, results have been declared for all 117 seats. The incumbent regional Shrimoni Akali Dal-BJP alliance has won with 68 seats beating Congress which has won 46 seats. In Punjab, the incumbent regional Shrimoni Akali Dal-BJP alliance has won with 68 seats beating Congress which took 46 seats.
The race in Uttarakhand is neck-and-neck. The ruling BJP has won 28 seats and is leading in another three, while Congress has won 27 seats and is ahead in five. Uttarakhand has 70 seats. With nearly all districts in Uttarakhand reporting, Congress had a one seat lead over the BJP, with 30 seats of the state's 70.
In Goa, the BJP has won 20 seats and is leading in one while Congress has won nine seats. Goa has 40 seats. In Goa, the BJP won 21 seats while Congress took nine. Goa has 40 seats.
Congress has won in the north-eastern state of Manipur where the party has got 42 of the total 60 seats. The only bright spot for Congress was the north-eastern state of Manipur where the party won 42 of the 60 seats.
The month-long elections were held in a total of 690 assembly seats and were staggered over a number of phases for security and logistical reasons.The month-long elections were held in a total of 690 assembly seats and were staggered over a number of phases for security and logistical reasons.