SHOCKING Election Results in India!

From the BBC...

Unreal... NO ONE expected this - not even The Economist. Major questions now loom with regard to economic reforms, AIDS policy, peace with Pakistan... And is this the restoration of the Nehru dynasty for another generation? If so, is that good for democracy in the world's largest democracy?

"India Government Slumps to Defeat"

Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has resigned as his governing BJP party heads to defeat in India's general elections. The president has accepted his resignation and asked him to continue until a new prime minister takes over. With most results in, the main opposition Congress party is well ahead of the BJP-led governing alliance. Mr Vajpayee called the poll six months early - but all the signs are that the move has backfired.

Nearly 380 million people voted in elections held over three weeks. The BBC's Adam Mynott in Delhi says it is the huge unspoken mass of Indians, largely ignored by the BJP and who have no electricity, poor sanitation and filthy water who have spoken.

ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
BJP & allies: 179
Congress & allies: 212
Others: 133 Seats counted: 524/543
Needed for majority: 272

Mr Vajpayee held a last meeting of his cabinet before driving to the presidential palace to submit his resignation to President Abdul Kalam. He did not speak to the media but is due to address the nation shortly. "As we have not got the mandate of the people we have decided to sit in the opposition," BJP president Venkaiah Naidu told journalists.

Counting of votes has been taking place in 1,214 centres across the country. Projections of the final results on state television place the opposition Congress-led alliance ahead of the BJP and its allies. But the Congress, led by Italian-born Sonia Gandhi, will have to seek support from smaller parties, including the Communists, if it wants to form the next government.

Story Continues...


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