Exit polls: Congress, AAP neck and neck in Punjab

New Delhi, March 9

The exit polls today predicted   a close fight in Punjab between the Congress, which is seeking to return to power after a hiatus of 10 years, and Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, making its debut in the state’s Assembly elections.

In the Hindi heartland of Uttar Pradesh, psephologists foresee the BJP emerging as the single largest party, winning between 155 and 185 of the 403 seats. One exit poll, however, has predicted 285.

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Most poll surveys see a victory for the BJP in Uttarakhand. But the saffron party, which is likely to lead the table in Goa, is projected to fall short of a majority in the tiny coastal state.

Released ahead of the March 11 counting, the exit polls predict that the SAD-BJP alliance, that has ruled Punjab for 10 years, could be struggling to get double-digit in the 117-member House.

The alliance, however, is confident of defying the pollsters "like in 2012", when it proved the surveys wrong. Eightynine-year-old CM Parkash Singh Badal claimed the alliance would win 72 seats. 

As for the Congress, Capt Amarinder Singh claimed it would win 65 seats. AAP exuded confidence, claiming it would bag close to 100.

The state, which went to the polls on February 4, saw a turnout of 78.60 per cent. In 2012 , the polling percentage stood at 78.57. Since the reorganisation of Punjab in 1966, the Congress and the SAD have been ruling the state alternately. But the SAD-BJP alliance, which formed government in 2007, won again in 2012. — Agencies