India's ruling party registers big win in crucial provincial polls

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) - India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed victory in the country's most populated and politically significant province of Uttar Pradesh, according to the final vote count by the Election Commission of India.

The party has also retained power in the states of Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa in the provincial polls. In the border state of Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs the nation’s capital New Delhi, has swept the polls.

According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won more than 250 seats out of 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh.

In Goa, the party won 20 seats out of a total 40 seats, while in Uttarakhand, it got 47 seats out of a total 70 seats. In Manipur, it won 32 seats.

In Punjab, the AAP, however, scored a landslide win and got 92 seats out of the total 117 seats.

On Thursday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed party workers in New Delhi, said the "2024 general election results can be glimpsed" in the results of the 2022 Uttar Pradesh election.

Modi also wrote on Twitter that "in all five states that went to the polls, our Party Karyakartas (party workers) worked tirelessly among the people."

"They spoke about our good governance agenda and highlighted our pro-people efforts. I salute each and every Party Karyakarta for their exceptional efforts," he said.

Analysts believe that the BJP retaining power in the key state of Uttar Pradesh ahead of the 2024 general election is perceived as a significant victory for Prime Minister Modi.