BJP to retain power in UP; AAP to win Punjab: Exit polls

As the voting for the Assembly elections in five states came to a close on Monday evening, most of the exit polls predicted a return of the BJP to power in Uttar Pradesh and a victory for the Aam Admi Party in Punjab.

The polls also predicted that the BJP will win most seats in Goa and Manipur.

Most of the pollsters were unanimous in predicting a big win for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led party in Punjab while a few of them also forecast a hung assembly in the state. The Congress was mostly predicted to be securing the second spot in Punjab

In Uttarakhand, both the Congress and the BJP were favoured by different exit polls to win the assembly polls. The ABP News-CVoter forecast an edge for the Congress in Uttarakhand, giving the party 32-38 seats in the 70-member assembly and the BJP 26-32 seats.

The exit polls signal that the BJP remains the dominant party in these states and indicate a big swing in the AAP's fortunes as Kejriwal's party is also seen to have emerged as a force in Uttarakhand and Goa where it may corner a decent poll percentage, if not many seats.

Most exit polls also predicted a big fall in the fortunes of Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and a setback for the Congress, which had hoped to retain power in Punjab and make a comeback in states like Uttarakhand and Goa.

The counting of votes will take place on March 10. 

Exit Polls

Uttar Pradesh

ETG Research - BJP+ (230-245), Congress (2-6) SP+ (150-165) BSP (5-10)

India News - BJP+ (222-260), Congress (1-3), SP+ (135-165), BSP (4-9)

NewsX-Polstrat - BJP+ (211-225), Congress (4-6), SP+ (146-160), BSP (14-24)

Times Now-VETO - BJP+ (225), Congress (9), SP+ (151), BSP (14)
 

Punjab (117)

ETG Research – AAP (70-75), Congress (27-33), Akali + (7-13), BJP (3-7)

India Today - AAP (76-90), Congress (19-31), Akali + (7-11), BJP (1-4)

NewsX-Polstrat - AAP (56-61), Congress (24-29), Akali + (22-26), BJP (1-6)

Republic TV - AAP (62-70), Congress (23-31)
 

Uttarakhand (70)

ABP News-CVoter – Congress (32-38), BJP (26-32)

ETG Research – Congress (29-32), BJP (37-40)

News 24 – Congress (24), BJP (43)

NewsX-Polstrat – Congress (33-35), BJP (31-33)

Republic TV – Congress (28-34), BJP (35-39)

TimesNow-VETO – Congress (31), BJP (37)
 

Goa (40)

ETG Research – BJP (17-20), Congress+ (15-17), TMC+ (3-4)

India News – BJP (13-19), Congress+ (14-19), TMC+ (3-5)

IndiaTV-CNX – BJP (16-22), Congress+ (11-17), TMC+ (1-2)

NewsX-Polstrat  - BJP (17-19), Congress+ (11-13), TMC+ (0)

TimesNow-VETO – BJP (14), Congress+ (16), TMC+ (0)