Uttarakhand leads indicate deadlock: BSP to be kingmaker?

Initial leads indicate the BJP may win the most seats but may not have enough to come to power in the state.

Anant Rangaswami|Mar 06, 2012, 09:59:55 IST

Leads for all 70 seats in Uttarakhand are in, with the BJP ahead with 29 leads and the Congress in 28 and it is the BSP and small players who will decide who rules the state.[caption id="attachment_235395" align="alignleft" width="380" caption="The BJP led by Khanduri are in the lead in Uttarakhand. File photo. PTI"][/caption]The Congress and the BJP are both well short of the absolute majority of 36 seats.The BSP, with 6 leads, could tilt the scales. Independents and small parties have notched up 7 leads.Considering the relationship between the BJP and Mayawati, it is unlikely that these two parties will negotiate with each other, which gives the Congress a slender edge at this stage.Let the horse-trading begin.

By Anant Rangaswami

Anant Rangaswami was, until recently, the editor of Campaign India magazine, of which Anant was also the founding editor. Campaign India is now arguably India's most respected publication in the advertising and media space. Anant has over 20 years experience in media and advertising. He began in Madras, for STAR TV, moving on as Regional Manager, South for Sony’s SET and finally as Chief Manager at BCCL’s Times Television and Times FM. He then moved to advertising, rising to the post of Associate Vice President at TBWA India. Anant then made the leap into journalism, taking over as editor of what is now Campaign India's competitive publication, Impact. Anant teaches regularly and is a prolific blogger and author of Watching from the sidelines.