Assembly Election Results HIGHLIGHTS | Four-one for BJP, including prize state UP; AAP sweeps Punjab

Goa CM Pramod Sawant evening spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone after the BJP won half the seats in the Goa Assembly elections and was poised to form the next government comfortably.

Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, who had recently joined the BJP, met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday with her daughter and congratulated him over the party's victory.

Notwithstanding the political heat generated over the Tikunia violence which had left four farmers among eight people dead ahead of assembly polls, the BJP made a clean sweep by winning all eight seats in Lakhimpur Kheri.

The BJP in Telangana would take inspiration from the party's victories in Uttar Pradesh and other states and strive to win the assembly poll next year in the southern state, the party's state unit chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar said on Thursday.

Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday said results of the just held assembly polls, where the BJP emerged victorious in four of the five states that voted, will not impact the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state.

Former Uttarakhand Congress president Kishore Upadhyay and former pradesh mahila Congress president Sarita Arya won their respective seats of Tehri and Nainital. (READ MORE)

Rashtriya Lok Dal president Jayant Chuadhary on Thursday said he respected the public opinion after his alliance with the Samajwadi Party lost the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.

The Congress which had emerged as the single largest party in the 2017 assembly election in Manipur with 28 seats produced one of its worst performances this time winning only five constituencies that relegated it to the fourth position, as per the Election Commission data.

Nearly eight lakh voters, who exercised their franchise in the five states which went to assembly polls, used the 'none of the above' or NOTA option, according to data available on the Election Commission website.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday congratulated the BJP, his ally for nearly three decades, over its stellar performance in assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa.

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and his Uttarakhand counterpart Pushkar Singh Dhami lost the polls from the seats they held respectively. (READ MORE)

Aam Aadmi Party's sitting MLA from Sunam, Aman Arora recorded the highest victory margin in the Punjab Assembly polls by defeating Congress nominee Jaswinder Dhiman. Arora won by a margin of 75,277 votes.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Thursday said the results of assembly polls in five states were not as per the expectations, but added that he accepts people's mandate.

Thirteen of the 93 women who contested the Punjab polls tasted victory and 11 of them belong to the Aam Aadmi Party, which registered a landslide win bagging 92 of the 117 assembly seats. Most of the AAP women candidates who won are greenhorns.

Buoyed by its performance in Punjab assembly polls, AAP is now aiming to expand its base in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. (READ MORE)

Senior Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan, who was part of the 'Group of 23' which had demanded reforms in the Congress organization, on Thursday said the election results in five states were "frustrating but not unexpected".

Senior BJP leader BS Yediyurappa on Thursday said after its rout in the assembly elections to five states, the Congress party will be wiped out of the country shortly.

After being an influential player in the politics of Uttar Pradesh for three decades, the Mayawati-led BSP has been relegated to the margins with the party set to witness its poorest performance ever in the state Assembly polls.

While Congress' seats tally came down to two from seven in 2017, its vote share declined to 2.35 per cent from 6.25 per cent. (READ MORE)

All five BJP MLAs, including minister Atul Garg, retained their seats in Ghaziabad, even as Sunil Kumar Sharma, contesting from Sahibabad constituency, won with a record 2.14 lakh vote margin, poll results showed on Thursday.

The Shiv Sena bagged less votes than the ones which went to NOTA in Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, Election Commission data shows. The Sena, which is in power in Maharashtra in alliance with the NCP and Congress, had contested Assembly elections in these three states but drew a blank.

BJP with its allies was winning or leading in 274 seats out of 403, becoming the first party in over three decades to form a government for a second consecutive time in Uttar Pradesh. (READ MORE)

Several party hoppers including Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Fatehjang Singh Bajwa and Anil Joshi faced defeats in their respective constituencies on Thursday.

With the BJP set to return to power in Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister Dinesh Sharma on Thursday said that the people of the state have rejected the Opposition's narrow-minded politics and put their stamp of approval on the saffron party's double engine government.

Outside the BJP office in Lucknow, some excited supporters were spotted riding on a bulldozer with saffron flags to celebrate the party's victory in the elections. (READ MORE)

Aditi Singh, who had quit as a sitting Congress MLA to join the BJP ahead of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, on Thursday won the Raebareli Sadar seat, according to official results.

AIFB, IUML and LJP could not manage to get any votes, and their vote share stood at 0.00 per cent, according to the ECI website. (READ MORE)

People of the country support the BJP as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured good governance and provided a life of dignity to them, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday reacting to the saffron party's win in assembly polls in four states.

Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya lost the Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll contest to Samajwadi Party's (SP) Pallavi Patel by 7,337 votes from the Sirathu constituency in Kaushambi district on Thursday.

The Aam Aadmi Party scripted history by winning 92 of the 117 assembly seats while the ruling Congress suffered a severe drubbing. (READ MORE)

The Bharatiya Janata Party's "momentous victory" in four of the five state assembly elections is a mandate for good governance, dynamic leadership and development, said AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam, on Thursday.

TMC's show in the Goa assembly election failed to match the noise it made while entering the poll fray, with no seat to show for its efforts. (READ MORE)

As the BJP is headed for a big win in Uttarakhand, besides registering comprehensive victories in Uttar Pradesh, Goa and Manipur, party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya on Thursday said the poll verdict in the four states is an indication that people want to see Narendra Modi as the prime minister again in 2024.

BJP chief JP Nadda said the people's massive support to the party shows their stamp of approval for the prime minister's schemes and policies. (READ MORE)

Former ED officer and BJP candidate Rajeshwar Singh won the Sarojini Nagar seat in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow with a margin of over 32,000 votes against his nearest Samajwadi Party rival.

The BJP has increased its vote share in four of the five states that went to polls in February-March, including a marginal rise in Punjab, where it managed to win just two seats. (READ MORE)

With BJP headed for a majority win in the assembly election in Manipur, Chief Minister N Biren Singh, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education, Rajkumar Ranjan Singh and state party unit President A Sharda Devi led celebrations at the party office here on Thursday.

Uttarakhand was then grappling with a series of problems and with elections just round the corner and Dhami ran against the clock. (READ MORE)

The BJP is heading for a victory in Manipur and retain power for the second successive term winning 28 seats and leading in four others so far in the election to the 60-member assembly.

After it suffered a crushing defeat in the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Congress general secretary in-charge of the state Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday said party workers and leaders worked hard but failed to convert that into votes, and asserted that the Congress would continue to fulfil its duty as a combative opposition.

Mayawati claims that several high-profile criminals and mafia dons landed behind bars during her terms in office. (READ MORE)

Former Congress leader Ashwani Kumar, who quit the party ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls, on Thursday said the state election results signal the "endgame" for the grand old party and the emergence of an alternative political narrative in the country.

While addressing AAP leaders and workers at the party headquarters, Kejriwal asked them to practice 'politics of love' and said coming days belong to India. (READ MORE)

PM Narendra Modi said Uttar Pradesh has given many prime ministers but for the first time, it has reelected a chief minister after he had served a full term. (READ MORE)

Buoyed by the BJP's performance in the elections of four states, including Uttar Pradesh, some BJP MLAs on Thursday raised 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly to express their happiness over the poll results.

With the BJP having put up an impressive show in four out of the five states that went to polls recently, Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday asserted that people have reposed their faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot said the party accepts the mandate of assembly elections held in five states. Reacting to the election results of five states, the senior Congress leader also extended wished to all those who have won the elections.

Crediting Narendra Modi for the BJP's victory in four assembly elections, BJP chief JP Nadda on Thursday said the people's massive support to the party shows their stamp of approval for the prime minister's schemes and policies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at BJP Headquarters in Delhi. The party emerged victorious in Goa, Manipur, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. #AssemblyElections2022 pic.twitter.com/UjjAX4bjX7

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

After the historic victory, leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and JP Nadda along PM Modi will address the BJP workers at the party headquarters now. 

I was expecting to win by 25,000 votes(margin)but won with over 30,000. I'm thankful to the people of Jaladabad for this victory...Main focus will be on education followed by electricity, water: AAP's Jagdeep Kamboj after defeating SAD's Sukhbir Singh Badal from Jalalabad,Punjab pic.twitter.com/mwtSpnEHv7

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

#WATCH | Firecrackers being burst outside CM Yogi Adityanath's residence in Lucknow, celebrating the party's performance in #UttarPradeshElection2022 pic.twitter.com/kk6Xfl6wJb

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Amid fervour, we have to stay focused...When we were fighting COVID, they (Opposition) were conspiring against us...By making us win people have once again voted for nationalism, good governance. It's our responsibility to continue working on these issues...:UP CM Yogi Adityanath pic.twitter.com/Anu7Q9wFrV

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address BJP workers from the Party HQ in Delhi at around 7 pm: Sources

Union Home Minister & BJP leader Amit Shah congratulates chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa & thank voters for reposing their faith in the BJP. pic.twitter.com/jJNMxJIIfi

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath lauds Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the victory. 

Everyone had their eyes on UP, given the vastness of the state. I am thankful to the people for making us win with majority...Under PM Modi's leadership we will be forming govts in UP, Goa, Manipur, and Uttarakhand: CM Yogi Adityanath after winning Uttar Pradesh pic.twitter.com/FTLLjnw2dQ

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

CM Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders play holi, celebrate and greet party workers at the party office in Lucknow.

#WATCH | CM Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders play holi, celebrate and greet party workers at the party office in Lucknow.#UttarPradeshElections pic.twitter.com/DDaXwjSNAx

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

#GoaElectionResult2022 Disappointed by the results, expected a better situation. We'll continue to be a responsible Opposition & take up issues aggressively. The Opposition has an important role, in and outside State Assembly: Dinesh Gundu Rao, Congress pic.twitter.com/ofu2ecIuOt

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Victory in Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Uttar Pradesh makes it clear that people will make Narendra Modi PM again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections: BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya in Dehradun pic.twitter.com/RBiKGwvJE2

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

BJP wins 20 seats, Congress wins 9 and leads on 2, Maharashtrawadi Gomantak and AAP win 2 each, Goa Forward Party and Revolutionary Goans Party win 1 each & Independent 3. 

Official EC trends for Manipur Election shows BJP wins 15 seats and leads on 14, Congress wins 3 and leads on 1, Janata Dal (United) wins 5 and leads on 2.

AAP wins 79 and leads on 13, Congress wins 13 and leads on 5, Shiromani Akali Dal leads on 3, BJP on 2 and BSP & Independent win 1 each.

For me, the results are very surprising. I cannot understand that after such massive inflation, if this was the public's mandate, what is the definition of public welfare and social justice? I can't understand people saying 'BJP zindabaad' after this, says Congress leader Harish Rawat. 

Our campaign strategy was insufficient & I accept it as chairman of Campaign Committee. People worked very well & I'd like to thank them. I couldn't win people's trust but I'd like to congratulate my daughter & all the winning candidates who won: Congress leader Harish Rawat pic.twitter.com/FRZOPjuvDD

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Uttarakhand CM and BJP leader Pushkar Singh Dhami arrives at the party's headquarters in Dehradun

He is trailing by over 6,900 votes in Khatima Assembly constituency. pic.twitter.com/whzlbzJFPv

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

Yogi Aditynath wins Gorakhpur Urban by a margin of 1 lakh votes.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav wins by 60,000 votes in Karhal. 

SP's Kishan Dikshit leads by 2000 plus votes in Varanasi Dakshini after 18th round. The seat which houses the most prominent temples, including the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor has been BJP's bastion since 1989. It's one of the five assembly segments of PM Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi. Meanwhile, sitting BJP MLA and UP minister Neelkanth Tiwari is facing high anti-incumbency on the seat.

Creating a record in India, BJP's Pankaj Singh win his Noida seat by a record margin of 1,79,500. 

Humbly accept the people’s verdict. Best wishes to those who have won the mandate.

My gratitude to all Congress workers and volunteers for their hard work and dedication.

We will learn from this and keep working for the interests of the people of India.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) March 10, 2022

It shows the popularity of PM Modi across the country. It's the result of PM Modi &CM Yogi's social welfare schemes which were implemented honestly. Bulldozer of development will continue to work in UP. We're getting more seats in Goa & Manipur than before: Union Min Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/fRL9N0B8MG

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

The victory in these states wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of our party workers. Bulldozer has become a symbol of uprooting mafias and criminals. We'll further implement PM Narendra Modi's welfare policies in Uttar Pradesh, says Union Minister Anurag Thakur on assembly election results.

AAP Chief Minister candidate from Dhuri, Bhagwant Mann wins with a margin of 58,206 votes.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has lost the election from both the seats that he contested-Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur.

We'll take time to stake a claim to form govt, let the results be out. Our national leaders will decide on CM face, we'll focus on PM Modi's mantra of inclusive development: Manipur CM N Biren Singh on assembly elections result pic.twitter.com/7xO0qFk8KP

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

People of Goa have given us a clear majority. We will get 20 seats or even 1-2 seats more. People have shown faith in PM Modi. Independent candidates are coming with us. MGP is also coming with us and taking all together, we will form our govt: BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis pic.twitter.com/s1lvXrL6Zv

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

I will take oath as the CM in Bhagat Singh's village Khatkarkalan, not at the Raj Bhawan: AAP's Bhagwant Mann, at Sangrur. "No government office will have Chief Minister's photos, there will be pictures of Shaheed Bhagat Singh and Babasaheb Ambedkar," he added.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami loses from Khatima seat. Though ECU is yet to confirm this officially. Former CM Harish Rawat also loses from Lalkuwa state assembly constituency.

In Chandauli, which is defence minister Rajnath Singh's district, BJP leads on three seats (Mughalsarai, Chakia and Saiyadraja), while SP leads in Sakaldiha. Close contest in Saiyadraja, where sitting BJP MLA and jailed mafioso Brijesh Singh's nephew Sushil Singh is locked in a fierce fight with SP's Manoj Singh.

AAP leading on 91 seats, Congress on 17 seats, SAD 6 seats, BJP 2 seats and other 1 seat. As per trends issued by the Election Commission of India of all 117 assembly seats of Punjab.

Former five-time Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal lost from Lambi while Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal lost from Jalalabad

Jeevan Jyot Kaur of AAP wins Amritsar (East) defeating political biggies like Punjab Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu and senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. 

Independent candidate  Rana Inder Partap Singh wins from Sultanpur Lodhi.

AAP CM candidate Bhagwant Mann and his mother Harpal Kaur share an emotional moment as they greet the party workers and supporters in Sangrur.

#WATCH | Celebrations at the residence of Manipur CM N Biren Singh in Imphal as BJP leads in the state as per official EC trends. CM N Biren Singh leading in Heingang by 18,271 votes. pic.twitter.com/4AUbchWfAm

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Dhan Singh Rawat could be the new Chief Minister as defeat if incumbent Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami looks imminent, said sources from the BJP.

In Mau district, SP and allies lead on three seats, while the BJP leads only in Madhuvan seat. Jailed mafioso Mukhtar Ansari's skeet shooter son Abbas Ansari leading by 8,000 votes in Mau Sadar.

In Jaunpur district, out of the nine seats, SP+ leads on 6 seats and BJP+ on 3 seats.

BJP and ally Apna Dal lead on all eight seats of Varanasi district. Close contest in Rohaniya between AD (S), while UP minister leads by around 7,000 votes in Varanasi South (also known as Kashi ki Ayodhya).

In adjoining Ghazipur district, SP and allies lead on six out of seven seats, while BJP leads only on Ghazipur Sadar seat. The SBSP chief OP Rajbhar's lead, however, narrows down with every successive round in Jahoorabad. He is leading now by 2000 plus votes.

In Uttarakhand, the BJP is leading on 48 seats, Congress on 19 seats. Counting on 70 state assembly seats on. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami trails by 4081 votes.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was heading for a landslide victory and leading by over 50,000 votes from Gorakhpur Urban seat on Thursday. 

While Adityanath was watching the poll outcome from his official residence in Lucknow, his supporters at the Gorakhpur Math and also at the party office had already started celebrating his and the BJP's victory in the state.

Pankaj Singh of BJP in Noida leads by a margin of 75,000 votes.

Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai and party workers exchange sweets as the party leads in #UPElections2022.
Express photos | @haisat2005.#VerdictDayWithTNIE #Elections2022 pic.twitter.com/Gy5nGsx9KV

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

Goa CM Dr #PramodSawant wins in #Sanquelim. #GoaElections2022 #VerdictDayWithTNIE #Elections2022 @ss_suryawanshi pic.twitter.com/ceQGUQ4TcI

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi trails in Bhadaur (by 22,843 votes) and Chamkaur Sahib (by 2671 votes) as per official EC trends.

BJP will form the government in Goa; We will take MGP and independent candidates with us, says Goa CM and BJP leader Pramod Sawant pic.twitter.com/L7wZLTS5mV

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

• I feel the BJP cadre hasn't accepted me into the party. I look at it in that way. If he (Utpal Parrikar) can get so many votes, it's just because the cadre shifted their votes to him.
• BJP leadership here didn't manage to do damage control. Disappointed as far as results are concerned. BJP cadre didn't work for me but for the Opposition candidate.
• I fought BJP and Congress. It's due to the support of a few workers & supporters that we managed to retain the seat.

• As the AAP appeared set for a clean sweep in Punjab, the party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday congratulated the people of the state "for this revolution".
• "Many congratulations to the people of Punjab for this revolution," Kejriwal, the Delhi chief minister, said in a tweet in Hindi.
• In the tweet, he also posted a picture of him standing with the AAP's chief ministerial candidate and MP Bhagwant Mann, with both leaders flashing victory sign.
• According to trends available at 12:30 pm, the AAP was leading in 90 of the 117 assembly seats.
• The trends indicated that the ruling Congress has been decimated in Punjab, while the SAD, which contested the polls in alliance with the BSP, has failed to make much impact.
• In Delhi, AAP workers assembled outside the party headquarters and burst into celebrations. They danced to the tunes of Punjabi songs.

EC withdraws ban on victory processions @NewIndianXpress @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI pic.twitter.com/JwKWMEP3SH

— Kavita Bajeli-Datt (@KavitaDatt) March 10, 2022

"The voice of the people is the voice of God …. Humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab …. Congratulations to Aap !!!." tweets Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.#PunjabElections2022

(File photo) pic.twitter.com/wK5kmOK010

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal trails by a margin of 10,526 votes from the Jalalabad seat.

A child of an AAP supporter dressed as party's national convenor #ArvindKejriwal & to be CM #BhagwantMann, celebrating the early leads of party in #PunjabElections2022.
Express photos | @parveennegi1.#VerdictDayWithTNIE #Elections2022 pic.twitter.com/Siu1dFLH5V

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

Congress leader Michael Lobo leading from Calangute constituency.

Aam Aadmi Party's Ajit Pal Singh Kohli leads from Patiala constituency; Punjab Lok Congress's Captain Amarinder Singh trailing.

• The Election Commission on Thursday lifted the ban on victory processions during the counting of votes and declaration of results in the five states where elections were held recently.
• In a statement, the poll panel said keeping in mind the current status of COVID-19 in these states, it has "decided to relax the guidelines on victory processions during and after the counting and has withdrawn the blanket ban on victory procession."
• While announcing the poll schedule for Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Goa and Punjab, the Election Commission had issued guidelines to regulate various aspects of elections, including victory processions amid the pandemic.
• "During the period of elections as the COVID situation improved, the Commission gradually relaxed the norms concerning electioneering in consultation with the Union Health Ministry and state governments," the statement said.
• The relaxation will be subject to existing instructions of state disaster management authorities and preventive measures imposed by concerned district authorities, it added.

BJP leaders to meet Goa Governor P.S.Sreedharan Pillai today to stake claim for government formation in the state.

BJP workers celebrate the party's lead in Gorakhpur in #UPElections2022.#VerdictDayWithTNIE #Elections2022 @Namita_TNIE pic.twitter.com/NxA9j5uXL3

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

• The BJP parliamentary board, its apex organisational body, is likely to meet later on Thursday to review the party's performance in assembly polls in five states as initial trends projected a thumping victory for the party in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address party workers at the BJP headquarters in the evening, sources said.
• As votes were counted for elections to five states on Thursday, early trends showed the BJP set for victory in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and was ahead in Manipur and Goa.
• The Aam Aadmi Party appeared set for a landslide win in Punjab.
• Top party leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and party president J P Nadda, will be attending the parliamentary board meeting, which is likely to be held after the results of assembly polls become more clear, they said.

• With the BJP leaving its rivals comfortably behind in states like Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand in the initial rounds of vote counting, its leaders credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's governance model for the expected win and said "new history" is being created in UP.
• Party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi asserted that people have expressed their faith in the policies ushered in by Modi.
• Trivedi said the BJP will end up winning close to 300 seats and asserted that what is clear is that a new history is being created in Uttar Pradesh.
• It has never happened in India's largest and politically most important state that a chief minister is set to come back to power with a majority after serving a full term as the head of a government with full majority.
• Several BJP leaders also lauded Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath for effectively implementing welfare policies and providing an efficient and clean governance.
• Many party leaders simply tweeted "Jai Shri Ram" to hail the trends projecting a big win for the party which is also ahead in Goa and Manipur.
• "The silent BJP voter gives the loudest message on poll day," BJP youth wing president Tejasvi Surya tweeted.
• The Election Commission website showed that the BJP is leading in nearly 250 seats in the 403-member assembly and around 44 in the 70-member Uttarakhand assembly.

#UttarakhandElections2022 | Under the leadership of PM Modi and CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, we gave welfare policies to the people of Uttarakhand and have got expected results: Union minister & state in-charge Pralhad Joshi in Dehradun pic.twitter.com/C3gbmzExat

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

#UttarPradeshElections2022 | OP Rajbhar of Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party leading from Zahoorabad constituency

(file pic) pic.twitter.com/OPxjRCnLFv

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

If BJP forms the government and Yogi Adityanath becomes CM, history will be created in UP where no CM has returned to power for second consecutive term after successfully completing a five-year term. He is leading by 34,000 votes in Gorakhpur urban

#WATCH | Jubilant BJP workers play holi at party office in Lucknow & raise slogans of "UP mein ka ba? UP mein Baba", as official trends show the party sweeping #UttarPradeshElections

CM Yogi Adityanath is leading from Gorakhpur Urban by over 12,000 votes, as per latest trends. pic.twitter.com/tAmtIkG4rI

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

#WATCH Punjab has accepted Kejriwal's model of governance. It has gained recognition at the national level. People in the entire country will seek this model of governance, says AAP leader Manish Sisodia pic.twitter.com/iVtBjv271Q

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Exultant workers & supporters of AAP celebrate by dancing & distributing sweets as the party sweeps Punjab elections with an absolute majority. Visuals from Chandigarh, Amritsar, Delhi & Nagpur#PunjabElections pic.twitter.com/3JHPnWoIEs

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

"As an Independent candidate it was a good fight, I thank the people. Satisfied with the fight but result is little disappointing," says Utpal Parrikar, son of late CM Manohar Parrikar, as he leaves from counting centre.

He is trailing by 713 votes in Panaji#GoaElections2022 pic.twitter.com/yiDIoWawkv

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Keshav Maurya, a prominent backward caste leader in BJP, is facing tough fight from SP's Pallavi Patel who belongs to Apna Dal (Kamerawadi), the other faction of Apna Dal (S). Pallavi is the elder sister of Apna Dal (S) leader Anupriya Patel. Pallavi comes from Kurmi backward caste and is believed to be cashing in on the division of Kurmi votes in Sirathu.

Saffron wave set to sweep #UPElections2022!#VerdictDayWithTNIE #Elections2022

LIVE: https://t.co/83GiDRHDiU pic.twitter.com/xEuxS1ZRF1

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

BJP leader Satpal Maharaj flies to Delhi to lobby for himself for the CM post as Chief Minister Dhami trails and likely to lose.

UP Deputy CM Keshav Maurya trails behind by over 2100 votes in Sirathu. Yogi Adityanath leads by over 30000 votes in Gorapkhpur Urban.

BJP leads in all eight seats in Varanasi , parliamentary constituency of PM Narendra Modi.

Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal is trailing behind Jagroop Singh Gill of AAP in Bathinda (Urban).

In Lakhimpur Kheri district which has eight assembly segments, BJP is leading over 7 and SP on one. It seems that the much pronounced anger against the BJP due to the farmers' killing and the role of Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra being the main accused, has not impacted the BJP performance to the extent it was expected.

Samajwadi Party candidate and high profile BJP turn coat Swami Prasad Maurya trails by 16,000 votes in Fazilnagar.

#UPElections2022 #ElectionResults2022 #VerdictDayWithTNIE
LIVE: https://t.co/83GiDRHDiU pic.twitter.com/pAIdFzGAwW

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

• The Samajwadi Party on Thursday said initial trends in Uttar Pradesh were "not authentic" and asked its workers to stay put at local assembly election offices till the counting of votes ends.
• The Akhilsh Yadav-led SP claimed the initial trends, which showed the BJP leading in majority of the 403 seats in the state, were only to "create a perception" that the saffron party was winning.
• "These trends are not authentic, a perception is being made that BJP is winning, so that the morale of the workers can be broken and results manipulated dishonestly after 3 PM. It is an appeal to the workers to stay put at the spot till the last results!" the Samajwadi Party's media cell tweeted in Hindi.
• Counting of votes for the UP assembly elections was underway on Thursday.

Congress workers protest against EVM, outside party office in Delhi as counting for the #AssemblyElections continues. The party is trailing in all five states as per the latest official trends by the Election Commission. pic.twitter.com/8Ltemk5wrW

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

• Punjab has given chance to Kejriwal's model of governance. Today, his model of governance has been established at the national level.
• This is the victory of the 'Aam Aadmi' (common man). We had fielded candidates in Goa, Uttarakhand and UP, but somewhere the focus was on Punjab. Gradually people in these states will also start to believe in our party.

Manipur Seats: 60.

Leads:

BJP: 25. Congress 14.

NPP 11.

NPF 4.

Others: 6.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav leads by more than 12,000 votes in Karhal.

Goa chief minister Dr Pramod Sawant is leading now by 366 votes.@NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard

— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) March 10, 2022

• The BJP leads on Gangotri state assembly constituency.
• Congress: 6782.
• BJP : 8894.
• AAP : 1411.
• The BJP leads by 2112 votes. There is a belief/myth related to this seat. Whoever wins this seat forms goverment in the state.

Yogi Adityanath leads by 26,000 votes in Gorakhpur Urban, Satish Mahana of BJP leading by 16000 in Maharajpur in Kanpur.

• AAP's chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann is leading from Dhuri seat by a margin of 4,387 votes leading over his nearest rival and Congress candidate Dalvir Singh Goldy.
• Punjab Sports Minister Pargat Singh trailing from Jalandhar Cantt, AAP canddiae Surinder Singh Sodhi leading

#GoaElections | We will sweep this Goa election. People have rejected scamsters, outsiders. They have voted for a party that works for the people of Goa: BJP leader Vishwajit Rane

"Party leadership will decide," he says, on being asked if Pramod Sawant will continue as the CM. pic.twitter.com/C7bJ4NErfD

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

#WATCH | Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav arrives at the party office in Lucknow. The party is leading on 97 seats in #UttarPradeshElections so far.

BJP has crossed the majority mark in the state. pic.twitter.com/ZyOhmBWhNO

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

• Celebrations break outside the residence of AAP's CM candidate Bhagwant Mann in Sangrur as the party crosses the majority mark in Punjab.
• Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi has arrived at his official residence in Chandigarh and is likely to meet the Governor to submit his resignation as the Aam Aadmi Party crossed the halfway mark in Punjab

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami leading by 73 votes now.

BJP leads on all three Noida seats including Pankaj Singh, son of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh @TheMornStandard @NewIndianXpress @khogensingh1

— Namita_TNIE (@Namita_TNIE) March 10, 2022

• Senior Samajwadi Party leader Mohd Azam Khan is leading in Uttar Pradesh's Rampur constituency by about 4000 votes, according to poll trends.
• After the initial round of counting, Azam got 5,090 votes while his BJP rival Akash Saxena got 1,006 votes, according to the EC.
• SP candidate Khan is presently lodged in Sitapur jail in connection with a number of cases lodged against him in Rampur district.

#PunjabElections2022 | A child of an AAP supporter dressed as party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal & to be CM Bhagwant Mann, celebrating the victory of party in Punjab assembly elections pic.twitter.com/g6Tw02Kcdm

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

#GoaElections | We are watching the result trends; People of Goa have voted for change: Girish Chodankar, Goa Congress President pic.twitter.com/rmaRh8jgTn

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

BJP leads on all three Noida seats, reports our correspondent Namita Bajpai.

Mafia don-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari's son Abbas Ansari trails on Mau Sadar.

BJP leads on all nine seats of Gorakhpur @TheMornStandard @NewIndianXpress @khogensingh1

— Namita_TNIE (@Namita_TNIE) March 10, 2022

Five-term former Punjab chief minister and SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal was trailing from his home turf Lambi seat by 1,416 votes, according to initial poll trends, AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Khudian was leading from the seat. As initial poll trends, two-time former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh is trailing in his pocket Aam Aadmi Party candidate Ajit Pal Singh Kohli was leading.

Akhilesh Yadav leads by 9816 votes in Karhal.

#WATCH | "Had been saying from day 1 that AAP will form govt with absolute majority...Throne of people who ruled Punjab for decades is shaking. In future, Arvind Kejriwal will be BJP's principal challenger, AAP will be Congress' replacement," says Raghav Chadha#PunjabElections pic.twitter.com/RIUFlyNNef

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

BJP leading in 225 seats of 349 trends received so far. SP leading on 111, BSP on 6 and Congress on 5. Former cop, ex-Kanpur Commissioner Asim Arun leads in Kannauj.

We can witness positive trends in Punjab, and we hope the results will also be positive. I thank the people of Punjab for voting for change: Delhi minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai

AAP has crossed the majority mark with an early lead in 88 Assembly constituencies in Punjab. pic.twitter.com/kag8fIPwCi

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

The BJP deserters seem to have mixed fortune with the saffron brigade taking early leads in the initial trends of Uttar Pradesh Assembly poll results. While Swami Prasad Maurya, contesting on SP ticket from his Fazilnagar seat in Kushinagar district of eastern UP, is trailing behind while Dhara Singh Saini, another BJP turncoat in the fray from Nakur seat in Saharanpur in the west is also trailing his rival Mukesh Chaudhury of the BJP. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

AAP leading on 88 seats, Congress on 15 seats, SAD 8 seats, BJP 4 seats and other 2 seats: As per trends issued by Election Commission of India of all 117 assembly seats of Punjab.

BJP leading in 225 seats of 349 trends received so far. SP leading on 111, BSP on 6 and Congress on 5.

Yogi Adityanath leads by 12,000 votes in Gorakhpur Urban.

Shivpal Singh Yadav, who has been given ticket by Samajwadi Party, trails from Jaswantnagar Assembly constituency, as per EC trends.

In Goa situation changing very speedily
Congress -- 15
BJP --13
AAP - 1
MGP - 6
Indept - 2
GFP - 1 @NewIndianXpress pic.twitter.com/3CUHAnkbQn

— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) March 10, 2022

Yogi Adityanath, Keshav Maurya, Siddharthnath Singh, Surya Prakash Shahi, Shrikant Sharma, Suresh Rana, Yogi ministers lead in respective seats @TheMornStandard @NewIndianXpress @khogensingh1

— Namita_TNIE (@Namita_TNIE) March 10, 2022

Latest reports on #ElectionResults2022 from Punjab.@Harpreet_TNIE #ElectionResultsWithTNIE #VerdictDayWithTNIE pic.twitter.com/yxkm8lnT7m

— The New Indian Express (@NewIndianXpress) March 10, 2022

• AAP's chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann is leading from Punjab's Dhuri seat by a margin of 4,387 votes on Thursday, according to early poll trends.
• Mann is leading over his nearest rival and Congress candidate Dalvir Singh Goldy.
• Counting of votes for 117 assembly seats in Punjab is underway.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is trailing behind in both assembly segments of Badaur and Chamkaur Sahib, reports our correspondent Harpreet Bajwa.

• Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal is trailing behind the AAP candidate in Punjab's Jalalabad constituency on Thursday, according to initial poll trends.
• Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Jagdeep Kamboj is leading by a margin of 827 votes in the constituency in Fazilka district.
• Counting of votes for 117 assembly seats in Punjab is underway.

Yogi Adityanath, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav leading in their respective Gorakhpur Urban and Karhal. BJP seems to approach more than an absolute majority with 222 seats of the 323 trends received so far. SP is leading on 8 seats, BSP on 5, Congress on 6 and others 2.

• AAP leading on 83 seats, Congress on 18 seats, SAD 8 seats, BJP 3 seats and other 2 seats: As per trends issued by Election Commission of India.
• AAP Deputy Leader of Opposition Sarvjit Kaur Munke takes the decisive lead in Jagraon after three rounds

BJP's Pushkar Singh Dhami and Congress's Harish Rawat trailing from Khatima and Lalkuwa constituency, respectively, as per EC.

Congress leader Altone D'costa leading, BJP's Chandrakant Kavlekar trailing, in Quepem constituency, as per EC.

AAP crosses majority mark in Punjab, in early trends; CM Channi, Captain Amarinder Singh, Navjot Sidhu trailing.

We're 'aam aadmi' but when 'Aam Aadmi' rises mightiest of thrones shake. Today's an imp day in India's history,not only because AAP is winning one more state but because it has become a national force. AAP will become Congress' replacement: AAP’s Punjab co-in charge Raghav Chadha pic.twitter.com/X4NJ0zxeC3

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

#WATCH | Celebrations at AAP's CM candidate Bhagwant Mann's residence in Sangrur as the party crosses the majority mark in Punjab. Mann leading from his seat Dhuri. #PunjabElections2022 pic.twitter.com/nzoJ9QyoJ1

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Bharatiya Janata Party's Aditi Singh leading in Rae Bareli Assembly constituency, as per Election Commission.

• Early leads in Punjab show that the Aam Aadmi Party is way ahead of others.
• Former CM Parkash Singh Badal trailing from Lambi Jeevan Jyot Kaur of AAP leading from Amritsar (East) the hot seat as both Navjot Singh Sidhu of Congress and Bikram Majithia of SAD trailing.

BJP's Sarita Arya leading from coveted Nainital state assembly constituency.

Manipur CM N Biren Singh leads by around 2500 votes over his Congress rival in Heingang seat after round 1 of counting.

• Two-time Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh is trailing in his pocket borough Patiala Urban seat by 3,575 votes on Thursday, according to initial poll trends.
• Aam Aadmi Party candidate Ajit Pal Singh Kohli was leading from the Patiala Urban seat. Counting of votes for 117 assembly seats in Punjab is underway.

• The BJP was leading in 110 seats as against 95 of its nearest rival Samajwadi Party in the initial rounds of counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh.
• Among those leading included Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav from Karhal, Shivpal Yadav from Jaswant Nagar, and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu.
• Counting of votes for the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday morning with three-layer security in place and cameras installed at all counting centres.
• In the initial rounds, postal ballots were counted. According to early trends available from 215 constituencies, the BJP was leading in 110 and the SP in 95 seats.
• The BSP and the Congress were leading in five and four seats, respectively.
• Jansatta Dal candidate Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was ahead in Kunda seat.
• All the exit polls have predicted a BJP win in the state.
• According to the official figure of EC available for 82 seats, the BJP is leading in 48, while the SP is leading in 24, Apna Dal in four and the RLD and the Congress were ahead in two each.

• The BJP was leading in 110 seats as against 95 of its nearest rival Samajwadi Party in the initial rounds of counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh.
• Among those leading included Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Gorakhpur, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav from Karhal, Shivpal Yadav from Jaswant Nagar, and Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya from Sirathu.
• Counting of votes for the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday morning with three-layer security in place and cameras installed at all counting centres.
• In the initial rounds, postal ballots were counted. According to early trends available from 215 constituencies, the BJP was leading in 110 and the SP in 95 seats.
• The BSP and the Congress were leading in five and four seats, respectively.
• Jansatta Dal candidate Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya was ahead in Kunda seat.
• All the exit polls have predicted a BJP win in the state.
• According to the official figure of EC available for 82 seats, the BJP is leading in 48, while the SP is leading in 24, Apna Dal in four and the RLD and the Congress were ahead in two each.

• The BJP was ahead in 11 seats and the Congress in seven constituencies in the initial rounds of counting of votes in Manipur.
• Counting of votes for 60 assembly seats in Manipur began at 8 am on Thursday under tight security and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols, officials said.
• According to early trends available from 26 constituencies, the BJP was leading in 11 seats and the Congress in seven.
• The Janata Dal (United) was ahead in three seats and the National People's Party in two constituencies.
• As per the official figure of the Election Commission, the BJP was ahead in six seats, the Congress in one and the JD(U) in two.

• In PM Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi, out of the eight seats, BJP leading in North, Cantt and ally Apna Dal (S) in Rohaniya, while UP minister Neelkanth Tiwari very close behind SP's Kishan Dikshit in Varanasi South. (All initial trends).
• Congress's Ajay Rai (who lost two LS polls to PM Modi in Varanasi) was leading in Pindra after counting of postal ballots. In 2017, BJP had won all 8 seats.

• Five-term Punjab chief minister and SAD leader Parkash Singh Badal was trailing from his home turf Lambi seat by 1,416 votes, according to initial poll trends.
• AAP candidate Gurmeet Singh Khudian was leading from the seat. Counting of votes for 117 assembly seats in Punjab is underway.

#ManipurElections2022 | I have prayed to God, that the coming five years would be tantamount to the last 5 years with peace and development and that BJP forms government with full majority: Manipur CM N Biren Singh

BJP leading on 3 seats with an Independent leading on 1 seat: EC pic.twitter.com/zvTUg7tbk2

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

BJP's Vishwajit Rane leading in Valpoi Assembly constituency, in early trends, as per Election Commission.

CM and BJP candidate from Sanquelim, Pramod Sawant trailing by 400 votes, Congress leading here.

BJP leads in 3 seats in Manipur @NewIndianXpress @khogensingh1

— Prasanta Mazumdar (@prasmaz_tnie) March 10, 2022

U'khand: The BJP leads on four seats, Congress on three according to the information on Election Commision of India website! @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/ojK8deg7EY

— Vineet Upadhyay (@VineetTNIE) March 10, 2022

• The BJP was leading in four seats while the Congress in three in Uttarakhand on Thursday, according to early trends available.
• Counting of votes for the 70 assembly seats in the state is underway.
• According to data available on the Election Commission website at 9. 20 am for seven seats, the BJP was slightly ahead of its main rival Congress.
• The polling was held in the state on February 14 with more than 65 per cent of the electorate casting their votes.
• The ruling BJP is seeking a second consecutive term in office this time, something which has never happened in the state's 21-year history.
• Routed in the 2017 assembly polls with a tally of 11 seats against the BJP's 57, Congress is trying to stage a comeback.
• Prominent candidates who contested the polls are Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, his cabinet colleagues Satpal Maharaj, Bansidhar Bhagat, Subodh Uniyal, Arvind Pandey, Dhan Singh Rawat and Rekha Arya, besides state BJP president Madan Kaushik.
• Important Congress leaders whose fate will be decided include former chief minister Harish Rawat, former minister Yashpal Arya, state Congress president Ganesh Godiyal and Leader of Opposition in the fourth assembly Pritam Singh.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami leading in Khatima constituency.

• The BJP was leading in 88 seats as against 37 of its nearest rival Samajwadi Party in the initial rounds of counting of votes in Uttar Pradesh.
• Counting of votes for the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh began on Thursday morning with a three-layer security in place and cameras installed at all counting centres.
• In the initial rounds, postal ballots were counted. According to early trends available from 134 constituencies, the BJP was leading in 88 and the SP in 37 seats.
• The BSP and the Congress were leading in four seats each. The Jansatta Dal was ahead in one seat. All the exit polls have predicted a BJP win in the state.
• According to the official figure of EC available for two seats, the BJP is leading on both.

• Two prominent BJP rebels, Laxmikant Parsekar and Utpal Parrikar, were leading against their rivals in the counting of postal ballots in Goa on Thursday, an official said.
• Former chief minister Parsekar contested the Assembly election, held on February 14, from Mandrem Assembly seat as an Independent candidate, while Utpal Parrikar, the son of former CM Manohar Parrikar, contested from Panaji seat against BJP candidate Atanasio Monserratte.
• In the counting of postal ballots before the opening of EVMs, both Parrikar and Parsekar were ahead of their rivals, the official said.
• The counting is underway since 8 am at a centre each in Panaji and Margao. Parsekar on Wednesday said he was confident of winning the election, but refused to say anything about whether he would support the BJP.
• He contested the election as an independent after the BJP denied him ticket and fielded sitting MLA Dayanand Sopte instead from Mandrem.

Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat leading in Lalkuan constituency at Uttarakhand.

In Panaji, BJP candidate Babus Monseratte leading while independent Utpal Parrikar trailing #GoaElections2022 @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard

— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) March 10, 2022

#PunjabElections2022 | Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi offers prayers in Chamkaur Sahib Gurudwara along with his family pic.twitter.com/J5q7clhEnT

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Manipur CM N Biren Singh offers prayers at Shree Govindajee Temple in Imphal, on verdict day for Assembly elections pic.twitter.com/zy4GyzwqzG

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

A maximum of 14 counting tables have been set up at each counting centre as separate tables have been set up for counting of ETPBS issued to service voters & staff engaged in election duty.#Pb @Newindianxpress, @TheMornStandard, @gsvasu_TNIE, @khogensingh1T

— Harpreet Singh Bajwa (@Harpreet_TNIE) March 10, 2022

One Nation One Election is a good suggestion but this needs a change in the Constitution. The Election Commission is fully geared up and is capable of holding all the elections simultaneously. We are ready to hold elections only once in five years.

#PunjabElections2022 | Counting of postal ballots gets underway at a counting center in Gurdaspur pic.twitter.com/vKfBFpPowi

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

#GoaElections2022 | Goa CM Pramod Sawant offers prayers at Sri Datta Temple as the countdown begins for the results of the Goa Assembly polls pic.twitter.com/IW47rDjMbf

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

• There is no question of EVM tampering. EVMs are continuously used since 2004, in 2019 we have started using VVPAT at every polling booth.
• EVMs are sealed in the presence of political party agents. The questions raised on an EVMs in Varanasi was meant for training purpose.
• The ADM's mistake was that he did not inform political parties about the movement of EVMs for training purposes as per the standard operating procedure.
• When questions were raised by some parties, we showed them no. displayed on that EVM. It didn't match with EVMs that were sealed & kept in the strong room for counting.
• They were satisfied after this. No EVM on which votes are cast can be taken out from the strong room. During the ban on election rallies due to the Omicron wave, EC took MCC violations seriously.
• Around 2,270 FIRs were filed for violation of COVID norms as well as MCC violations in all 5 states.
• Every political party is the same for EC. 31,000 new polling booths were created for the Assembly polls. We created 1,900 polling booths that were run by women & large women participation was seen due to this. In 4 out of 5 states, the percentage of female voters were higher than that of male voters.
• 'Know your candidate' App was a successful initiative by EC. Supreme Court had decided that people with criminal backgrounds should be known to the voters. So, we created this app & out of 6,900 candidates, more than 1,600 were with a criminal background.

There is no question of EVM tampering. EVMs are continuously used since 2004, in 2019 we have started using VVPAT at every polling booth. EVMs are sealed in the presence of political party agents: Sushil Chandra, Chief Election Commissioner.

"I am confident about the victory of the Congress party in Uttarakhand. Everything will be clear in the next 2-3 hours. I have faith in the people of the state. I believe Congress will get close to 48 seats," said the former Uttarakhand CM.

Counting of votes begin for Assembly elections in five States including Uttar Pradesh.

On the eve of counting of votes for the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday urged the party workers to be ready for keeping up their struggle for people's cause, saying "our fight has just begun" and "we have to move forward with new energy". (READ FULL STORY HERE)

On the eve of the counting of votes, former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Wednesday exuded confidence that the people of Punjab will deliver a positive verdict in favour of his party's alliance with the BJP and SAD (Sanyukt). (READ FULL STORY HERE)

In a tweet from its official Twitter account, the SP claimed that the car carrying 10,000 plain ballot papers was trying to enter a strong room in Azamgarh after switching off its headlights. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

To avoid a repeat of 2017 — when a large group of Congress legislators defected to the BJP despite the party emerging as the single largest — the Congress has rushed a team headed by P Chidambaram, D K Shivakumar, Satish Jarkiholi, Dinesh Gundurao and Sunil Kedar to Goa to keep its flock together. (READ FULL STORY HERE)

Counting agents of various parties are arriving at the counting centres. Postal ballots will be opened at 8am, followed by counting of votes recorded in EVMs. Counting process is expected to be complete by the evening. Sec 144 imposed in Varanasi Commissionerate area: DM Varanasi pic.twitter.com/bskp9iFrQ8

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) March 10, 2022

AAP leader Bhagwant Mann offers prayers at gurdwara Gursagar Mastuana Sahib, Sangrur

Counting of votes for 117 Assembly constituencies in Punjab will begin at 8am pic.twitter.com/a8WAwrDiDL

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

Imphal | Counting of votes to begin at 8am for #ManipurElection2022, at Thoubal District Commissioner Office Complex pic.twitter.com/jEZybrYYdu

— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022

The strong rooms have just been opened in the presence of candidates and observers. Postal ballots will be taken to the counting halls through a dedicated corridor of security personnel. Counting for South Goa will be done at Damodar College: Collector Ruchika Katiyal

Equal attention will be on Punjab too, where the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP has been predicted to cause the major upset by removing the incumbent Congress from power.

All the 117 assembly seats in the state are facing multi-cornered contests this time around.

While some exit polls have predicted an AAP victory, some have also given forecast of a hung assembly.

Ground reports:

Jobs and development on voters' lips, not caste

Sand mining storm sweeps netas, not voters in Punjab

Unlike 2017, sacrilege not a burning poll issue anymore in the state

If the BJP retains power in UP, it will be the first time a party is getting re-elected in the state for a second term in over three decades.

In 2017, BJP had won 312 seats on its own while NDA's figure was 325. The SP had won 47, BSP 19 and the Congress had won seven seats, two less than Apna Dal (S) at nine.

The BJP went to the polls this time with Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD party while Akhilesh Yadav had formed a rainbow coalition with RLD and a string of regional parties, including Om Prakash Rajbhar's Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP).

Political parties await results with bated breath

Personal remarks, rhetoric put real issues on backburner

Battle lines drawn between Modi’s Kashi, Akhilesh's Azamgarh