Chandigarh: Counting of votes for state assembly elections held in five regions of the subcontinent namely- Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa will begin today at around 8 am. The Election Commission of India (ECI) says that it’s teams are all set to count the votes. As the ECI has used Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during the polling, the tends are expected to arrive soon after the counting of votes begins.
There were three main parties contesting in Punjab- ruling combine of Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal)-Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), opposition Congress party and newbie Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, political observers say that at the end it was a contest between Congress party and the Aam Aadmi Party.
Two exit poll surveys about Punjab were divided over their prediction for the leading party, as cVoter exit poll predicted AAP’s lead while India Today-Axis’ exit poll predicted Congress party’s lead. Interestingly both exit polls predicted defeat of SAD Badal-BJP combine in the state.
In Uttar Pradesh- ruling Samajwadi Party has contested elections in alliance with the Congress party. Bhartiya Janta Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) are other main contestants. Uttar Pradesh has highest number of assembly segments amongst the all five regions for which polling was held in past two months. Moreover, UP has more significance for parliamentary elections also. BJP’s Hindutva agenda and Modi Government’s performance is believed to be on test in UP assembly elections this time.