BJP set to form govt in Uttarkhand,though breath short of majorit

Dehra Dun, Feb 27 (UNI) In a result that could have reverberations on the forthcoming UP elections, the BJP capitalised on an anti-incumbency wave against the Congress regime to emerge as the party most likely to form the next government in Uttarakhand, while the BSP performed better then expected but the SP and Uma Bharti's BJS failed to shine.

With the last pending result going the way of Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party, with its tally at 34 seats -- tantalisingly short of a majority on its own -- but far ahead of the Congress' 21, while the BSP, which made a strong showing in the Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts, winning eight seats. The UKD got three and independents won three.

However, the Samajwadi Party and the Uma Bharti-led Bharatiya Jan Shakti have failed to open their account, an ominous foreshadowing for them ahead of the UP polls.

The pending result was Narendra Nagar constituency, where a recount was sought by the BJP candidate Lakhi Ram Joshi after Congress' aspirant Subodh Uniyal sprinted to victory by a single-digit margin of seven votes over his UKD rival, Om Gopal Rawat. Mr Rawat, who went on a dharna to demand the announcement of results of the recount -- which he claimed make him victor -- succeeded in his contention as he was declared winner by four votes.

The BJP is now viewing support from the two -- or likely three -- UKD MLAs-elect as well as the three independents. According to reports, the UKD leadership has said it is not averse supporting the BJP provided the party accepts its demand unconditionally.

It will also strive to grab the Bajpur constituency, where polling was deferred following the death of the Congress candidate Janak Raj Sharma in a road accident, three days before the polling.

Polling for this seat in Udham Singh Nagar district will now be held on March 25.

Accepting defeat, outgoing Chief Minister N D Tewari said he respected the people's mandate while Congress state chief Harish Rawat admitted to some misuse of power and the ''great expectations'' of the people.

The Congress salvaged some respectability by winning the bypoll to the Tehri-Garhwal parliamentary constituency by a huge margin.

Its candidate Vijay Bahuguna achieved success on his third try, wresting the seat from the BJP's Manujendra Shah, the son of incumbent MP Manavendra Shah -- whose death on January 5 this year necessitated the bypoll -- by a margin of over 19,000 votes. Mr Bahaguna, the son of redoubtable hill leader and former UP Chief Minister, the late Hemwati Bahuguna, outclassed Mr Shah, whose late father, the erstwhile Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, had won elections to the seat a record eight times.

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