The election results in the five states have brought big disappointment to the congress in UP, Punjab and Goa.  The congress has managed to retain the Manipur state while it is involved in a sea-saw battle with BJP in Uttarakhand when reports last came in.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP combine has regained power in Punjab while the BJP is set to rule Goa in alliance with MGP (Maharashtra Gomanthak Party). In the elections to 40-member strong Goa assembly, BJP and MGP combine won 24 seats while the congress got 9 seats. Others won in 7 seats.

The Mulayam Singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh is racing ahead to get clear majority by bagging 194 seats and leading in 29 seats while BSP and BJP won 80 and 49 seats respectively. The congress won in 25 constituencies and was leading in 3 others. Congress ally RLD won in 8 constituencies apart from leading in one seat. 16 seats were captured by independents.

In Punjab, the SAD- BJP combine has recaptured power by bagging 68 seats while the congress has got 46 seats out of a total of 117. Independents have captured 3 seats.

In Manipur, the congress retained power by winning 42 seats in the 60-member assembly. TMC won 7 seats while NPF won 4, CPI 1 and others 6.

In Uttarakhand where the congress was involved in sea-saw battle with BJP, it won in 33 seats as against 30 by BJP. BSP won 3 seats while UKD got one and others three. (J)