Counting has begun in five states – Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa. Initial trends indicate Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) winning on the UP, UP, Uttarakhand, while Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is the leader in Punjab.
The elections were held in 690 constituencies in these five states. The parties, including BJP, AAP, Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP), are expected to know their fate.
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According to the Election Commission (EC), 671 counting observers, 130 police observers, and 10 Special Observers will be present to ensure a smooth counting process.
BJP is in power within these five states in four states comprising Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa, and Uttarkhand. Additionally, there’s a Congress administration in Punjab.
Within the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly, the majority is 202. Exit polls indicated that the BJP is set to be back on the throne with its allies for the first time in the second term, with many of them saying that their party’s vote count will be lower than in the 2017 elections scored an overwhelming victory.
It is expected that the Samajwadi Party (SP), which fought for power with RLD and other parties, will be able to improve its performance, as the exit polls forecasted.
The majority of exit polls suggested a win of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the 117-member Punjab Assembly, with the scale of the victory for the party varied across polls. Some surveys predicted that the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP that is currently the ruling party in Delhi win a stunning success.
They also suggested that the incumbent Congress will come in second place in the state, followed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), that had a close relationship with Bahujan Samaj Party.
If the results align with the predictions of polls on exits and the results are as expected, it is the first time AAP will be in power in Punjab.
The multi-cornered election in Goa could result in an assembly vote that is not unanimous, and exit polls have predicted some of them placing the BJP ahead.
Still, others affirm that Congress is the biggest party close to the halfway mark of the state assembly of 40 members.
Exit polls indicated a tight race in Uttarakhand, and most of them favored the BJP to form a government.
A few exit polls also suggested that Congress would be ahead of the pack and surpass the halfway point in the 70-member Assembly.
The polls conducted in Manipur have given a clear edge for the government of the BJP in the formation of the next government, with many of them forecasting that it will fail to reach the halfway point.
The majority threshold will be 31 in the 60 member Manipur Assembly.
