'Hung Assembly' Threat in Goa & U'khand, Sawant Meets PM in Delhi, BJP Gen Secy in Huddle in Doon

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and state BJP President Sadanand Tanawde on Tuesday met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting came after exit poll results on Monday gave the Bharatiya Janata Party a slight edge in the state, sparking speculations of likely post-election scenarios.

Goa BJP candidates and other state leaders will also be meeting Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai today EVENING, at the Garware Club House in Mumbai, sources said.

After the meeting, Sawant told media that BJP would form the government in Goa with ‘full majority’. “We are likely to get 20 plus seats. And also, if needed we will take the support of independents, as well. People have voted for us because of the development done by BJP government,” he said. The chief minister said he and the PM had discussed the current political scenario and the formation of government.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders and strategists in Uttarakhand also began internal confabulations over the possible post-poll scenarios that may emerge in the state after Uttarakhand exit poll results.

Sources told CNN-News18 that top leaders of both the saffron party and Opposition Congress were holding closed-door meetings in Dehradun, the day after various exit polls failed to give a clear picture of the Uttarakhand assembly election outcome.

BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, union minister and in-charge of Uttarakhand Prahlad Joshi are already in Doon and holding meetings. Sources said BJP, particularly mulling options in an event of a hung assembly are is also in touch with independent candidates and other parties having a better chance of winning.

On the other hand, Congress MP and special observer Deependra Singh Hooda reached the state capital. He is talking to state leadership including Harish Rawat and senior leader Pritam Singh among others.

“Number shown in the exit polls for BJP is less, result will be different on March 10. I am hopeful that BJP will get an absolute majority. There will be celebrations on March 10,” Dhami said on Tuesday.

And in Goa, even as the majority of the exit polls gave BJP the edge, with some even predicting a majority for the party in the 40-member Goa Assembly, Pramod Sawant appeared to be more circumspect in his prediction of a likely post-poll scenario.

While the BJP had gone into the elections with its slogan ’22 plus in 2022′, Sawant said that even if the party is stuck at 17-18 seats, it would seek help from Independent MLAs to form government.

“If we are stuck at 17-18, then I feel three to four seats will be won by Independents. Independents tend to support those who are in majority. I am confident of forming the government with Independents,” Sawant said on Monday, a day when several exit polls predicted a good showing by the BJP.

And sources told CNN-News18 that Goa Congress candidates will be checking into a hotel in North Goa. “Both candidates from North and South Goa to check into this hotel likely tonight to avoid poaching, based on a diktat from the top party brass,” the sources said.

“On counting day, many Congress candidates will not be coming to the counting centres. They will be represented by their election agents. Candidates to remain inside the hotel till Thursday afternoon,” they said.

The ABP C-Voter Exit Poll has predicted between 13 and 17 seats for the BJP, and between 12 and 16 seats for the Congress. The AAP is projected to win 1-5 seats.

The India Ahead-ETG poll has predicted a near majority for the BJP with 20-22 seats, while the Congress and AAP are expected to get between 7-9 and 6-8 seats, respectively.

According to the Republic-P Marq survey, the BJP is expected to win between 16 and 20 seats, the Congress 9-13 seats, the AAP between 4 and 8 seats while others expected to win between 1 and 5 seats.

NewsX-Polstrat has also pegged 20-22 seats for the BJP, between 4 and 6 seats for the Congress, 5-7 for AAP and Independents bringing up the rear with 7-9 seats.

The Times Now-VETO poll has slotted between 17 and 21 seats for the BJP, 4-6 for the Congress, between 8 and 11 for AAP and between 3 and 5 seats for others.

The India News-Jan Ki Baat survey has also predicted 18-22 seats for BJP, 5-6 for Congress, 7-9 for AAP and between 5 and 8 for others.

The India Today-Axis poll, however, has estimated that the Congress would win between 15 and 20 seats, while the BJP would win between 14 and 18 seats, with the Trinamool Congress-Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party alliance winning between 2 and 5 seats and others 0-4 seats.

Goa Congress President Girish Chodankar also expressed confidence at winning the elections with 23-26 seats.

“The magic figure has been decided by the people of Goa. It will come out in the open soon. We are confident that we will win between 23 and 26 seats,” Chodankar said.

Goa has 40 Assembly seats with a majority mark of 21.

With inputs from IANS, PTI

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