This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/world-asia-india-17255364
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 11 | Version 12 |
---|---|
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 in elections in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. | |
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 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. |
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. | |
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. | |
Mayawati thrown out | |
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 crowds began gathering outside the offices of the Samajwadi Party in Lucknow 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 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. |
Samajwadi has won 220 seats and with almost all the returns in, was leading in another four, giving it a clear majority. | |
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. |
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, the incumbent regional Shrimoni Akali Dal-BJP alliance has won with 68 seats beating Congress which took 46 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 won 21 seats while Congress took nine. Goa has 40 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. |