Mumbai: The BJP, which virtually contested against all others in Maharashtra, seemed set to make major gains with exit polls holding it to emerge the single-largest party in the 288-member assembly while some gave it a majority as the bitter electoral battle ended yesterday.
Its former ally Shiv Sena was second, while the strength of former partners Congress and NCP, who governed the state for three successive terms before their alliance ended last month, appeared to wane sharply, and Raj Thackeray’s Maharashtra Navnirman Sena seemed to barely make an impact.
According to Today’s Chanakya, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would get a majority with 151 seats, the Shiv Sena would get 71, while the Congress would be reduced to 27 and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) to 28.
The ABP-Nielsen exit poll gave BJP 127, while Shiv Sena was second with 77, the Congress with 40, the NCP 34 and MNS 5, while Times Now-C Voter held 129 seats for the BJP, the Sena 56, Congress 43, NCP 36 and the MNS with 9.
Around 64 percent of the 8.35 crore strong electorate of the sprawling western state turning out to vote for their choices among the 4,119 candidates in the fray. Voting was also held for the Beed parliamentary constituents where a bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting MP, union minister Gopinath Munde.
Shiv Sena, whose 25-year-old alliance with the BJP ended last month, and fought the elections on the plank of “dignity and self-respect of Maharashtra”, was however equally upbeat over its prospects.
Sena youth leader Aditya Thackeray asserted that not only would the party form the government, but party chief (his father) Uddhav Thackeray would be the next chief minister.
“We have a well-known face, the hard work by our activists and a progressive and aggressive vision for the state, unlike the opposition parties,” he told media persons soon after polling ended.
On the other hand, senior BJP leader and MP Poonam Mahajan confidently declared that “the people would support the vision of development propounded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi”.
Congress, NCP — which also called off their 15-year-old alliance last month — and MNS leaders appeared to withdraw in a shell, though lower rung leaders claimed that “surprises” would be in store after the counting.
With most exit polls predicting a hung assembly, the state may witness unprecedented political permutations and combinations emerging after the results.
Stray incidents of violence marred the otherwise peaceful polling in the state amidst tight security.
In Gadchiroli district, some Maoists attempted to disrupt polls by firing at a polling booth, but the security personnel promptly returned fire and voting continued peacefully.
A woman politician from Digras in Yavatmal allegedly assaulted an election officer over a minor fracas, but voting was not affected.
Yavatmal reported clashes between some villagers and security personnel in which at least one policeman was injured in stone-throwing.
At least three political activists were injured in clashes and stone-pelting in Aunjur-Dive village near Bhiwandi town in Thane district. The injured have been admitted to IGM Hospital nearby while security was further tightened.
In Mumbai, the vehicle belonging to Akhil Bharatiya Sena candidate Geeta Gawli was stoned by unknown political rivals and damaged, before they fled from the scene, while in Aurangabad, MIM candidate Imtiyaz Jalil’s vehicle was also stoned.
Chandigarh: Heavy polling took place yesterday across Haryana in the election to the state assembly, perking up the BJP’s hopes to come to power on its own and the INLD too exuding confidence. The Congress, looking for the third term, however, did not look downcast.
The voter turnout in the elections to 90 assembly seats yesterday was heavy, over 72 percent of Haryana’s 1.63 crore voters exercising their franchise till 6pm Minor clashes reported at about 10 places marred the otherwise peaceful polling.
Scores of people were still queued up to cast their votes. Election officials said all voters who had lined up till 6pm will be allowed to cast their votes.
“Voters were still queued up at polling stations and the poll percentage would go up. It could be a new voting record,” an election department official here said.
The main contest is between the ruling Congress, the main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The BJP, which is contesting the assembly polls in the state on its own for the first time, was upbeat about the high turnout so far, saying that the voters wanted a change.
“The BJP is all set to form the next government in Haryana on its own. We will get a clear majority and end the rule of scams and corruption,” BJP leader Abhimanyu said.
Senior BJP leader Anil Vij said: “The BJP will win at least two-thirds seats in the assembly. The party will form the government with full majority.”
However, incumbent Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who cast his vote in his native village and was looking forward to forming the government for the third consecutive term, was not willing to give up easily.
“Seeing the response of the voters, I can say that the Congress will win the elections and form the government for a third term,” Hooda said.
The opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) said that the heavy turnout was an indication that the party (INLD) was going to form the next government in the state. “We will form the next government. The voters will reply to the conspiracy against the INLD by the Congress and the BJP,” INLD leader Abhay Chautala said.
The NCR areas of Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded a relatively lower turnout, respectively of 58 and 66 percent.
The balloting will decide the fate of 1,351 candidates, including 116 women. The election results will be known on Sunday (October 19) after vote count.
Minor clashes were reported at about 10 places, mostly between workers of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), leaving some people injured. At one place in Sirsa district, INLD workers clashed with former minister Gopal Kanda and his supporters and damaged an SUV.
A clash took place between BJP and INLD workers in Baansgaon of Narnaund assembly constituency in Hisar district. BJP candidate Abhimanyu alleged that INLD workers captured the polling booth and stopped the webcast from there. Another clash was reported from Barwala constituency in the same district.
In Sirsa district, an incident of firing was reported from Modiakhera village.
In Jind district, a clash took place between INLD and BJP workers in the high-profile constituency of Uchana Kalan. A poll official was allegedly manhandled here. Another clash was reported from Punhana area in south Haryana.
IANS
