Editor's Desk: India witnessed a major political spectacle on March 6 with the results of assembly polls in the five Indian states. The results gave a clear signal to the major national parties Congress and the BJP for the 2014 general elections.

 

Contrary to the analysis done by poll pundits and top-notch journalists across the country, the BJP and its allies have marched ahead in some key states, while the fortune of the Congress Party declined further.

 

People in Uttar Pradesh gave a decisive mandate to the Samajwadi Party while voting Mayawati's BSP out of power. They also rejected the BJP and Congress. However, Congress lost badly as compared to the BJP in the state.

 

Rahul Gandhi's charisma failed to charm the voters although it drew crowd at the election rallies. Neither Rahul nor Priyanka could impress, as the Congress only three out of ten seats in Amethi-Raebareli belt. The Congress did not get any benefit from the alliance with Ajit Singh's RLD, as it ended up with a distant fourth.

 

In Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal surprised everyone by becoming the first CM in 46 years to retain power. He helped SAD-BJP combine get a comfortable majority in Punjab, while the Congress had to bite the dust.

 

In Goa, the Congress government failed to live up to the expectations of the voters. As a result, Manohar Parikar-led BJP bounced back by winning a clear majority in the state.

 

Uttarakhand produced a fractured mandate. But, the Congress should blame itself for failing to encash in the anti-incumbency mood of the voters. BC Khanduri, who was brought back to lead the party just six months before the polls, lost his seat, but helped the BJP win 31 out of 70 seats, while the Congress won 32 seats.

 

The BJP is confident to form the government in Uttarakhand with the help of Independents and BSP MLAs, while the Congress looks dejected. The party had hoped for a landslide victory in the Hilly state, which did not happen.

 

Congress took solace from the results in Manipur. The party scored a landslide victory in the north-eastern state, thanks to the good work done by CM Okram Ibobi Singh.

 

The Assembly Elections 2012 were termed as the semifinals in the run-up to the 2014 general elections. If that is the case, then the Congress need a lot of self-introspection, while the BJP needs to do a lot of ground work to consolidate its base.

Uttar Pradesh Results:

Total Seats: 403, Samajwadi Party - 224, BSP - 80, BJP – 47, Congress – 28, RLD – 9, Others – 15.

 

Punjab Results:

Total Seats: 117, Shiromani Akali Dal – 56, BJP – 12, Congress – 46, Others – 3.

 

Uttarakhand Results:

Total Seats: 70, Congress – 32, BJP – 31, BSP – 3, Others – 4.

 

Manipur Results:

Total Seats: 60, Congress – 42, MPP+ - 1, Others – 17.

 

Goa Results:

Total Seats: 40, BJP – 21, MGP – 3, Congress – 9, Others – 7.

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