Haryana in kitty, BJP starts hunt for Maharashtra ally

mangaloretoday.com/ Indian express

New Delhi,Oct 19: BJP is all set to form the government in Haryana, but the saffron party will have to look for an alliance partner in Maharashtra as it appears to have fallen short of the majority in the 288-seat state Assembly. But one thing that was clear from the results was the total annihilation of the ruling Congress in both the states.

 

As per trends available till 4 pm, BJP has won 83 of the 206 seats declared. Shiv Sena is in the second position with 45 seats, followed by Congress at 34 and NCP with 24.  Its former ally the Shiv Sena has also put up an impressive show winning 11 and leading in 42 other constituencies. To add insult to injury for the Congress.

Increasingly, it appears that the BJP is not set to get to 145 on its own. The NCP could make some noises indicating its willingness to truck with the BJP, but BJP’s chief ministerial frontrunner Devendra Fadnavis reiterated just this morning that the Congress-NCP are the party’s political rivals, not the Shiv Sena. The RSS too seems to be against any alliance with the NCP, and has termed the Shiv Sena a natural ally of the BJP. However, Sharad Pawar’s party has announced unconditional outside support to the BJP.

 

The Sena has anyway already softened its stand following the exit poll numbers, having called for an end to enmity in day before’s edition of Saamna. The BJP-Sena has been partners for 25 years in the state and as well as at the Centre. They also control the biggest cash cows in Maharashtra, the municipal corporations of Mumbai, Thane and the others in the region.

In Haryana, Bhupinder Singh Hooda conceded defeat after his party fell to 14 seats – a fraction of its 2009 figure of 40. Modi wave seems to have worked for the BJP in the state as the party is likely to win 51 seats. INLD has emerged as the second largest party with 18 seats.

Here are the updates:

# Rahul Gandhi congratulates the BJP for its success in Maharashtra and Haryana elections, says people voted for change.

# We accept people’s verdict. Congress will work hard on the ground to once again earn people’s confidence: Rahul Gandhi

# NCP offers outside support to the BJP to form a government in Maharashtra “in the interest of stability and development” of the state.

# Despite PM Narendra Modi urging Baramati voters to vote for BJP to free Baramati of “slavery of Pawars”, Ajit Pawar wins with 1 lakh margin.

# Haryana CM Bhupinder Hooda to submit his resignation at 5 pm today.

# 95 results known in Maharashtra, BJP bags 32, Shiv Sena 22, Congress 19 and NCP 13.

# As the Congress moves towards its worst defeat in the State elections, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) chief Manikrao  Thakre has announced his resignation. The leader addressed a press conference where he said, “I take complete responsibility for the defeat, sending my resignation to Sonia Gandhi.”