In a major show of strength, the BJP on Thursday ensured it retained power in the crucial state of Uttar Pradesh as it led in 263 out of 403 as counting was still underway.
Sprinting towards victory in the keenly fought assembly elections, the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP trounced its principal rival Samajwadi Party left far behind.
The BJP crossed the majority mark in the initial rounds itself. As per the latest Election Commission trends available on all 403 seats, by afternoon the BJP was leading comfortably.
Adityanath was nearly 70,000 votes ahead of his nearest contestant from the Gorakhpur (Sadar) seat, while his arch-rival Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav led from his constituency Karhal against the BJP.
Adityanath is close to setting a record since this is for the first time after 1985, a political party is returning to power with a thumping majority in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
The monk-turned-politician created history as the first chief minister ever in Uttar Pradesh to retain after a five-year term.
In the past, four chief ministers had also returned to power in Uttar Pradesh but none after a full five-year term. Narayan Dutt Tiwari was the last chief minister of undivided Uttar Pradesh to win consecutive terms in 1985.
AAP landslide buries opposition in Punjab
In an electoral outcome with national ramification, the Aam Aadmi Parry (AAP) on Thursday stormed to power in Punjab with a landslide victory that punctured the entire opposition, inflicting humiliating defeats on the state's biggest political stalwarts.
Noisy celebrations erupted at the AAP headquarters here and across the border state of Punjab as counting of the millions of votes polled in the February 20 assembly election showed the party inching towards winning an incredible 92 of the 117 seats, earning a two-third majority.
Incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi of the Congress lost to AAP opponents in both Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur.
In the latter, he was defeated by Labh Singh, who comes from a poor family and works in a shop repairing mobile phones. Veteran Akali Dal leader Parkash Singh Badal, who has been Chief Minister of Punjab four times, suffered a shock defeat in Lambi, his political hub.
His son and Akali Dal stalwart Sukhbir Singh Badal lost in Jalalabad, while former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh lost to AAP in Patiala Urban. One of the biggest upsets of the election came from Amritsar East where AAP activist Jiwan Jyoti Kaur defeated both Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu -- who played a key role in ousting Congress Chief Minister Amrinder Singh just before the elections -- as well as Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
In contrast, AAP's Chief Ministerial candidate Bhagwant Singh Mann -- now the AAP's lone Lok Sabha member -- was declared elected form Dhuri in Sangrur district by more than 58,000 votes.
BJP headed towards 2nd term in Uttarakhand
Counting trends in Uttarakhand suggest ruling BJP has successfully battled an anti-incumbency factor despite playing musical chairs with the chief minister's post last year.
The BJP is leading much ahead of its main rival Congress, although down from its earlier tally.
The party's main poll issues national interest, national security, army welfare, and religious tourism has rubbed off well on the voters of the hill state.
It was ahead in 47 seats, eight more than the required majority in the 70-seat assembly, with the Congress leading on 20 seats as counting of votes continue.
This will be a record for the saffron party as it retains power in the state, where anti-incumbency has never allowed any party since its inception in 2000 to return in consecutive terms.
Not only former chief minister Harish Rawat (Lalkunwa) but his daughter Anupama Rawat (Haridwar rural) as Congress candidates are trailing. Daughter-in-law of former minister Harak Singh Rawat, Anukriti Gusain is trailing behind sitting BJP MLA Daleep Singh Rawat by over 1,000 votes on the Lansdowne seat.
Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal has lost his lead to BJP minister Dhan Singh Rawat by a small margin from Srinagar Assembly and his party member Om Gopal has also lost his lead against minister Subodh Unial on Narendranagar seat.
Former CM and Congress campaign head in the state, Harish Rawat is trailing on the Lalkuan seat behind BJP candidate Mohan Singh Bisht, who is ahead with around 14,000 votes.
BJP's Pushkar Singh Dhami is also trailing from his seat Khatima, as per the Election Commission In 2017 assembly polls, BJP had won 57 seats in the state, while the Congress, which had won 11 seats last time, is leading on 21 seats.
Incumbent Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is trailing from the Khatima seat behind Congress candidate Bhuwan Chandra by over 2,000 votes.
The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is leading on one seat and Independent candidates are leading two seats.
BJP inching towards majority in Goa
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is inching towards a majority in Goa although final results are yet to be announced.
According to the Election Commission, the BJP has won 5 seats and is leading on 15 seats.
The Congress has 3 seats and is leading on 8 seats. Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) is leading on 2 seats, Goa Forward Party (GFP) on 1 and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on 2, Revolutionary Goans Party (RGP) 1 and independents on 1.
Two independents have secured victory in the assembly polls.
Till now the commission has declared results of 10 seats and results of 30 seats are awaited.
BJP set to finish as single largest party in Manipur
The ruling BJP seemed on track to emerge as the single largest party comfortably, but could still fall marginally short of its target of an absolute majority in Manipur assembly polls, with some of the regional parties coming up with good performances and the Congress faring dismally in the vote count on Thursday.
Only four results have been declared so far, and the Janata Dal (United) have won three seat and BJP won one seat.
The BJP was leading in 26 other seats, while the National People's Party (NPP) was ahead in nine seats, and the Naga People's Front (NPF) in five, and the JD(U) in three.
The Congress, which had finished as the single largest party in 2017 by bagging 28 seats, was ahead in only nine. Other parties and independents were leading in the remaining six seats.
Dr.Usham Deben Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party seized the Wabagai seat by defeating the sitting Congress legislator Fajur Rahim, while JD(U)'s Ngursanglur Sanate emerged victorious from Tipaimukh, which had also elected the Congress last time.
Chief Minister N Biren was almost victorious at Heingang Assembly constituency as he was leading by 18271 votes over P Saratchandra of Congress.
The official declaration by the Returning Officer was awaited.
N Biren offered prayers at the Shri Shri Govindajee temple at Imphal with party leader Sambit Patra, and hoped that his party would get 30 pus seats.
The BJP has already started preparing for a victory function at its head office at Imphal later in the day.
However, he said that even if his party wins a majority, it could form a coalition government as the BJP central leadership was in favour of "keeping the friendly parties along with us".
Janata Dal (United) candidate Md Ashab Uddin defeated Nameirakpam Budhachandra Singh of Bharatiya Janata Party by 416 votes in Jiribam assembly seat.
Janata Dal (United) candidate Ngursanglur Sanate defeated Chalton Lien Amo of Bharatiya Janata Party by 1249 votes in Tipaimukh assembly seat. Another JD(U) nominee and heavyweight in state politics Khumukcham Joykisan Singh defeated Jotin Waikhom of Bharatiya Janata Party by 3773 votes in Thangmeiband seat.
BJP strongman, Thokchom Radheshyam was ahead at Heirok while state Congress President N Loken was trailing his BJP opponent Basanta Singh at Nambol. Former Congress President Gaikhangam Gangme was also trailing BJP's Dinganglung Gangmei at Nungba.
Former Chief Minister and Congress candidate Okram Ibobi Singh has amassed an emphatic lead at Thoubal. However, Ibobi's son Okram Joy Singh was now running behind his BJP rival Karam Shyam in Langthabal.
Two women candidates of BJP were in the lead. While former minister Nemcha Kipgen has established a comfortable lead at Kangpokpi, SS Olish was the frontirunenr at Chandel.
On the other hand, Agriculture Minister O Lukhoi of the BJP was lagging behind NPP candidate Loken at Wangoi. (Inputs from UNI)
