BJP retains Uttar Pradesh and two other states, AAP wave in Congress bastion Punjab

Despite facing farmers' protests and massive criticisms over the COVID-19 handling, the BJP stood tall on the result day on Thursday winning 270 seats though its tally nosedived by 52 this time.

Former Chief Minister and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, who ran a spirited campaign in the state, ended up winning 128 seats, 76 more than what it had registered in 2017, facing the saffron wave.

While both the BJP and SP improved their vote shares, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress have been decimated in the country's most populous state.

The BSP and Congress, which have eaten into the anti-BJP votes as some analysts claim, could win only one and two seats.

With the win, Adityanath, who was picked by the BJP as the Chief Minister in 2017 stunning all political pundits, will help him emerge as a tall leader of the Prime Minister's party.

AAP sweeps Punjab

In what could lead to the new formation in the Opposition space, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) swept Punjab winning 92 of 117 seats leaving the Congress with only 18.

In an election which has surely catapulted Kejriwal to the national politics, Congress top guns including Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who had contested from two seats, have suffered defeats.

Former Chief Minister and ex-Congress leader Captain Amarinder Singh had no better fortunes in the voting machines after breaking up with the grand old outfit.

Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who too has lost his seat, accepted his defeat in a tweet which reads, "The voice of the people is the voice of God …. Humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab …. Congratulations to Aap !!!"

Buoyant by the massive success, Kejriwal, whose party is now in power in a full state along with the national capital, termed the victory as a "great revolution". 

"After Delhi and Punjab, this revolution will spread to the entire country," Kejriwal said with a clear hint to going national.

The Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP, which were never the main opponents of the Congress, ended up winning four and two seats respectively.

BJP retains Manipur, Uttarakhand, finds advantage in Goa

The BJP has once again scripted a sweeping victory in Manipur and Uttarakhand, which went into polls along with three other states in the last few weeks.

The BJP has won 30 of 60 assembly seats while the Congress has won only six seats.

In Uttarakhand, the saffron brigade has won 44 of 70 seats while the Congress lagged behind with 18.

Though it failed to attain the majority (21) in the 40-member Goa assembly, the BJP has found itself in an advantageous position with 20 seats as the party may get support of the Independents to form the government.

The Congress is once again the loser in this state winning just 12 seats.

Facing another defeat which can massively impact his party's political future, Congress's de facto number two Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "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."

(Images: IBNS File and AAP Goa Facebook)