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Congress setback in key 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 as votes are counted in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh.
The regional Samajwadi Party appears headed for a clean sweep - it has won 15 and is leading in another 200 seats. The state has 403 seats. The regional Samajwadi Party appears headed for a landslide - it has won 15 and is leading in another 200 seats. The state has 403 seats.
Congress also looks set to lose in Punjab, while it is engaged in a neck-and-neck contest in Uttarakhand state.Congress also looks set to lose in Punjab, while it is engaged in a neck-and-neck contest in Uttarakhand state.
These polls are seen as a litmus test for the national elections in 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.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.
Manipur and Goa are the other states where counting is going on.Manipur and Goa are the other states where counting is going on.
Blow to CongressBlow to Congress
The most crucial of the state elections has been in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which has more than 200 million people.The most crucial of the state elections has been in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which has more than 200 million people.
Uttar Pradesh 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.Uttar Pradesh 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.
After all the hype about Rahul Gandhi leading a resurrection of the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, the poll results there and in Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand can only be termed as a major setback for the party's national fortunes.After all the hype about Rahul Gandhi leading a resurrection of the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, the poll results there and in Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand can only be termed as a major setback for the party's national fortunes.
A victory in Manipur can't make up for the setbacks in the other states.A victory in Manipur can't make up for the setbacks in the other states.
The trends from Uttar Pradesh also indicate a major groundswell of support for Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party, which looks set to return to power after a gap of five years.The trends from Uttar Pradesh also indicate a major groundswell of support for Mulayam Singh Yadav and the Samajwadi Party, which looks set to return to power after a gap of five years.
The defeat of Chief Minister Mayawati and her Bahujan Samaj Party clearly indicates that she alienated many voters during her tenure.The defeat of Chief Minister Mayawati and her Bahujan Samaj Party clearly indicates that she alienated many voters during her tenure.
The Congress party's inability to capture power in Punjab and the ding-dong battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand are not a good sign for Congress, which looked upon the five state assembly elections as an event that could have set a positive tone for the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.The Congress party's inability to capture power in Punjab and the ding-dong battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Uttarakhand are not a good sign for Congress, which looked upon the five state assembly elections as an event that could have set a positive tone for the Lok Sabha polls in 2014.
The BJP and its allies have done well in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa, but the party has come a cropper in Uttar Pradesh.The BJP and its allies have done well in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa, but the party has come a cropper in Uttar Pradesh.
It will maintain good company with Congress as the two parties slug it out for the number three and four slots in Uttar Pradesh. It is in good company with Congress as the two parties slug it out for the third and fourth slots in Uttar Pradesh.
Her main challenger for state power is Mulayam Singh Yadav, who heads the Samajwadi Party. It mainly represents the interests of a caste grouping called the Other Backward Classes. Her main challenger for state power was Mulayam Singh Yadav, who heads the Samajwadi Party. It mainly represents the interests of a caste grouping called the Other Backward Classes.
The vote counts are available for all the seats in the state and the Samajwadi Party appears set to win a majority - it has won 15 seats and is leading in 200 seats. The ruling BSP is a distant second with leads in 84 seats and three wins. With numbers coming in from all the seats in the state, the Samajwadi Party appears set to win a majority - it has won 15 seats and is leading in 200 more. The ruling BSP is a distant second with leads in 84 seats and three wins.
The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won two seats and is leading in 44 seats; and Congress party is leading in 27 seats.The Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has won two seats and is leading in 44 seats; and Congress party is leading in 27 seats.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in the state capital, Lucknow, says Samajwadi supporters danced in the street outside party headquarters as the results came in.
As it became clear the party was headed to victory, the celebrations became frenzied, our correspondent says, with firecrackers exploding and people throwing coloured powder around, as if Holi, the Hindi festival of colour, had arrived a few days early.
Correspondents say the counts in Uttar Pradesh are a blow to the Congress party.Correspondents say the counts in Uttar Pradesh are a blow to the Congress party.
"The results are shocking. We are disappointed," the state's Congress party chief, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, told reporters. Speaking in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi took responsibility for his party's disappointing results.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh, says massive crowds have gathered outside the Samajwadi Party headquarters, singing, dancing and lighting firecrackers. The scion of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty is widely tipped to be India's next prime minister, and was not running in the state polls, but had led campaigning for Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
The supporters are chanting Mr Yadav's name, demanding that he become the new chief minister, our correspondent says. "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."
In Punjab, the incumbent regional Shrimoni Akali Dal-BJP alliance has won 54 and is leading in 14 seats. Punjab has 117 seats.In Punjab, the incumbent regional Shrimoni Akali Dal-BJP alliance has won 54 and is leading in 14 seats. Punjab has 117 seats.
The Congress party has won 40 and is leading in another six seats.The Congress party has won 40 and is leading in another six seats.
Uttarakhand is seeing a neck-and-neck contest, where the ruling BJP has won six seats and is leading in another 26, while Congress has won four seat and is ahead in 27 seats. Uttarakhand has 70 seats. Uttarakhand is seeing a neck-and-neck contest, where the ruling BJP has won six seats and is leading in another 26, while Congress has won four seats and is ahead in 27. Uttarakhand has 70 seats.
In Goa, the BJP has won 15 seats and is leading in another four while Congress has won eight seats. Goa has 40 seats.In Goa, the BJP has won 15 seats and is leading in another four while Congress has won eight seats. Goa has 40 seats.
Congress is doing well in the north-eastern state of Manipur - it has won 22 seats and is leading in five seats for which counts are available. The state has 60 seats.Congress is doing well in the north-eastern state of Manipur - it has won 22 seats and is leading in five seats for which counts are available. The state has 60 seats.
The month-long elections were held in a total of 690 assembly 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.