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The Congress-led UPA is looking for a new term in office while the NDA steered by the BJP is trying to end its term in the opposition, although it isn't clear if one of them would on their own be able to muster the 272 seats needed to stake claim for power.
Politicians were fierce verbally during campaigning, but the elections itself were bloody with naxalites attacking polling and security personnel in the first two rounds leaving over 20 dead.
The fifth and final phase on Wednesday saw elections to 86 constituencies across nine states and two union territories, including all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu.
Counting will be held on May 16.
One person was killed and several hurt in clashes in Tamil Nadu today, while another was killed in a clash between Trinamool Congress and CPI-M activists outside Kolkata before polling began.
Prominent candidates in Wednesday's round included Home Minister P Chidambaram, DMK's T R Baalu, Dayanidhi Maran and M K Azhagiri, Congress' Md Azharuddin, BJP's Maneka and Varun Gandhi and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, MDMK's Vaiko and SP's Jayaprada.
Congress' Mani Shankar Aiyar, Sajjad Gani Lone of People's Conference, BJP's Vinod Khanna and Navjot Singh Sidhu were also among the big names in this round that saw a total of 1,432 candidates jumping into the fray.
Besides all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, elections were held to four seats in Himachal Pradesh, two in Jammu and Kashmir, nine in Punjab, 14 in Uttar Pradesh, 11 in West Bengal, five in Uttarakhand and the lone one seat each in both Chandigarh and Puducherry.
Uttar Pradesh, which returns the highest number of MPs (80), and Jammu and Kashmir were the only two states to go to polls in all the five phases.
The Lok Sabha has 545 members, but elections are held to 543 seats as two members are nominated from the Anglo-Indian community.


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While we await the election results, we can comfortably make a sweeping statement that the NDA and UPA both have lost their right to tell the most repeated lie during their campaigning that there is no space for a 3rd front in the country. They have proved that there is space for a 3rd front really. In the next general elections, the people of India must get an opportunity to vote for a 3rd front candidate. Because, only the 3rd front can represent the aspirations of the people. I believe, if there were strong contenders from the 3rd front the elections in all the constituencies where majority of the people kept away from voting would have become more lively.Let us make it during the next parliamentary elections. Yes; we want a 3rd front to rule the contry. We need not depend on the same old bulls of BJP and Congress who want to keep power to themselves and enjoy and shout against the formation of 3rd front. They are worried of 3rd front. They have their reason to object it.
I havae never been a BJP supporter, but I feel the next government will be formed by the NDA led by the BJP. Congress has hit enough spades in its own feet and will have to keep licking the self inflicted wounds.
There are lot of people faking as indians and hindus. Regularly commenting on IE and TOI
The irony is this despite the soo pseudo secular stand and anti BJP propaganda and perverse smears,is about to backfire.We believe that Congress and BJP will neck in neck.The secular myth and politically correct clap trap will now be exploded.The value of the mainstream must be uphold and implemented with urgency, so that we have level playingfield. We also belive Varun will the election with a thumping Majority and a future dynamic leader.
How about making Devegowda as the next (sleeping) PM and his son Kumaraswamy as Home minister? I am not joking --- I am reading the mid of Devegowda
This nation can progress only if the 'tamasha' of election is dealth with. We must have only 3 party system and all regional parties must align with one of them and contest on one of the three symbols only. We have to bring in huge reforms in electoral process by debarring all those convicted, fix minimum education, clean record. Each MP/MLA should be accountable to a Peoples Council formed by a group of 5 eminent people drawn from diff walks of life. v must form 250 to 275 such councils and each council must audit 2 Mps/Mlas every 6 months and submit report to PM. Both Lok sabha and Assembly elections should be held simultaneously only once in 5 yrs. In case no party gets majority, then the first 2 parties must compulsorily form the govt. There cannot be change for 5 yrs. These will have to be incorporated in the statutory. All National projects like road Network,Riverlinking,Airports,Power,schools,hospitals,housing,railways network must be drawn as 20 yr program and completed.
It is ironic a newpaper like yours blatently publish the filth
I feel that BJP must declare if it really want to save India from disintigration. 1. COMMON CIVIL CODE.2. ARTICLE 370 SHOULD GO. 3. RESERVATION POLICY ON CASTE LINES MUST GO. Many people in our country who love their motherland will definetly vote and support BJP. Even, political parties of like minded will join BJP. BUT, the tragedy with BJP is when they get power they bargain like dalals for anything just to keep them in power. Advani is the biggest Dalal of BJP. He should not be PM.. The most competent person to be the PM is Narendra Mode,Arun Jaitly in BJP.
How dare you use such words!! You and your pitaji must be chor as you promote a liar to become our PM. We hope to find you soon.
We can forecast with guitedge confidence that Varun is going to victorious with landslide. The advent of Varun on the Indian political scene will, will be like the rising of the Hindu Phoneix.Consequently this will bring about a seismic and tsunami shift in Indian politics and ideology.Time to bury the shoddy,corrupt and shambolic political past.In him We will see a strong leadership,less corruption,strong ideology and clean governance. Our Golden Age is fast approaching and will turn our beloved Motherland, the land of opportunities and hope.Far far too long we hindus/sikhs have beentaken for granted as door mat.Soon this nonsense will have to stop and bet treated with respect and gravitas.We are putting all the Meercats and pink chddis, and the Media on notice.
the third front will form the next government with puratchi talaivi jayalalith amma as PM
One might agree or differ with BJP's ideology. That is not the issue. But what matters is how much BJP is serious about its so-called ideology. Its actions tell it is not and it showcases its ideology only to deceive its core constituency at the time of elections. Its actions speak louder than words. If it is really serious about its ideology, then it must ally only with those parties which believe in its ideology or those who come to terms with it. To put it simply, it must dictate terms rather than the other way around. But, actually it is the reverse of this. The BJP gives up its ideological roots just to taste power. What is in common with the BJP and JDU or even for that matter the Akali Dal, RLD, Assom Gana Parishad etc. It is just power and power alone that matters finally and the core issues are just put under the carpet never to be raised and will raise their ugly head only during next elections. This abject surrender is just an admission of defeat of its ideology.
Upadhya has got his knicker in a twist.He seems to be a gutless wonder, like many other pseudo-secular Hindus,who feel safe in abusing the few (eg Varun) Hindus who stand up for the Hindus in their own land.What are the thoughts of the 'learned' Upadhayia on the home grown Muslim terrorists? Shame on you,Upadhayia ,spineless ,foul mouthed twit.
Many politicians do not desrve to run our country.As all parties are bad, there is little choice. Congress is the worst evil having governed for more than 50 years since independence. Today our poverty is highest ,see world Bank report, country has been divided on caste lines for years and there seems to be no change.Congress appeases muslims, Hindu supporters are termed communal. Vote for BJP the lesser evil. If there is choice between cutting one's left hand (BJP) and the right leg (congress), it is better to cut the left hand
Chor "Upadhyay", you are not a Hindu but a terrorist using fake Hindu name. Soon you will be wanted by CBI, FBA and all anti-terrorist squads all over the world. Wait for your time.
Kaitan, guess you will be the first one to be wanted by agencies you indicated...given your attitude and your patrons...
We Hindu's should not vote for Varun, because not only he is supporting the liar Advani to become PM, but all toghether they are destroying our Hindu reputation all around the world by playing taliban. In the hands of these nincompoops our Dharma and people are being dubbed as if we too were followers of osama bin laden. By mixing religion and politics Pakistan has now been teared apart, it has become a failed state, and we do not that to happen to our India.Every person from every caste and religion should join hands and build a better and modern India by providing education to every child of this country.
It is quite comical to see some chaddiwallahs here forecasting BJP to win 195 seats and NDA emerging the largest alliance with 236 seats. One cannot control one's laughter seeing their misplaced optimism. Even the BJP's own internal assessments do not give it more than 150 seats and the alliance at around 200. When this is the case, I do not know how come these funny people are day dreaming like this. May be it is their wish, but if wishes were horses, beggars would be kings. The correct reading would be that even if the BJP performs incredibly in its strongholds of MP, Gujarat, Chattisgarh, Karnataka etc., and make major gains in UP, it cannot cross 155 seats at best. However, the ground reality suggests that the BJP may end up anywhere between 130-135 and its allies may end up with another 35-40 and that is the most likely scenario.
BJP will be the single largest party with 185 to 195 seats.Congress will be the second party with 105 to 115 seats. BJP will get support from AIDMK and TDP, apart from the existing NDA partners.
After poll third front will again go back to UPA or NDA both the allaiance has equal chance for form the govtKing makers in this poll : SP, BSP,AIADMK,JD(U),Left
The last phase of election indicates that the contest now appears as very close between the UPA and the NDA. The Congress will emerge as the single largest party with about 175 seats. The BJP will be a distance second with about 135. The communists, third and fourth front will not get more than 130 seats. The UPA allies will have 60 and the NDA allies will get about 50. UPA may need about 45 /50 and this could easily be obtained from SP24, BJD10 and if need be from other minor parties or from the communists. On the other hand it will be a Herculean task to NDA to get 90/100 seats. So also it will be impossible to the third front to get about 150 seats. In the end it will be race between the UPA and the NDA. Once the elections results are out, almost all the parties will be looking for greener pastures. The MPs seats can be exchanged be against the powerful ministerial post or for other consideration. There is in no need for any panic situation and all of us can go to sleep peacefuly.