New Delhi: The massive exercise of counting votes polled in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa will be held on Tuesday. It's fair to say that these state elections are being seen as a mini General Election and a referendum on the UPA government.
The massive exercise of counting votes polled in the five states of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa will begin in just few hours on Tuesday. It's fair to say that these state elections are being seen as a mini General Election and a referendum on the UPA government.
The Election Commission has made elaborate arrangements for Tuesday's counting of votes in five states by setting up counting halls for all 690 assembly constituencies in 168 locations and deploying additional observers.
Counting will be done in 72 locations in Uttar Pradesh, 52 in Punjab, 16 in Uttarakhand and 12 in Manipur and three locations in Goa.
Sources said that the Election Commission has deployed additional observers for counting this time and several officials of the Commission in Delhi are being sent to the five states for overseeing the counting process on Tuesday.
The Election Commission has also ordered videography of counting process in each hall. It has, however, this time done away with compulsory videography of each counting table due to practical difficulties.
Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said, "It's just an Assembly Election, not General Elections, so there are no national implications."
But the reality is indeed otherwise. It's being seen as a mini referendum and for the UPA under siege a good performance would be a lifeline.
A win in Punjab, Uttarakhand and Goa will help the UPA counter the Anna movement. Facing charges of corruption and an aggressive BJP, the UPA will in that case gain courage to fight back. A decent show will also give the UPA the political ammunition to push ahead with much awaited economic reforms.
Uttar Pradesh is important for Rahul Gandhi's future. The Uttar Pradesh polls are being seen as his elections. So, a poor performance would dent his image and standing within the party.
The reasons why BJP is looking at these elections keenly are the same - a defeated Congress will vindicate its stand that the UPA has lost the right to govern. It could add weight to BJP President Nitin Gadkari's clout within the party. It will also justify the party's support to the Anna movement.
A resurgent Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh will also be significant in national politics, as the Congress could use this as a possible checkmate move against an increasingly belligerent Mamata Banerjee.
Interestingly, these results are coming just ahead of the Budget session of Parliament. So, how the two sides fare will determine whose voice will be heard the loudest.
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