Tomorrow is D-Day for govts in 5 states

Analysts say the results could give pointers to the Lok Sabha poll next year

NEW DELHI: Counting of votes begins tomorrow in five states with analysts saying the results will have an impact on the Lok Sabha polls next year.

Votes cast by an estimated 66% of the 98 million voters in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, and Chhattisgarh will be counted from 8am onwards. Most of the results are expected by afternoon.

While the Congress has ruled Delhi since 1998 and hopes to win a third five-year term, the BJP hopes to retain power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh besides capturing the national capital.

“These election results are quite important in the run-up to the Lok Sabha election as these states have a sizeable chunk of parliamentary seats,” political analyst GVL Narasimha Rao said. “Whichever party wins a majority of these assemblies will gain momentum for the Lok Sabha election.”

Analyst Sudha Pai, however, warned against concluding that a winner in the state polls would win the Lok Sabha battle.

Barring Chhattisgarh, elections in the other four states took place under the shadow of the terror attacks in Mumbai.