Welcome to verdict day, where the results will be declared for the assembly elections conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Punjab.
Since January, our team has been on the ground in four out of five poll-bound states, trying to get a sense of which way each state will vote. The exit polls, unpredictable as they are, have indicated strong wins for the BJP in UP and the AAP in Punjab.
Through the day, we'll keep you posted on major developments, with a special focus on how the election madness plays out on news channels.
News channels are tripping over themselves to announce early leads while assuring voters that it's also too soon to say. As a precursor to the results, try counting all the boxes on these screens.
Abhishek Singhvi is on NDTV, where Sreenivasan Jain tells him he's 'missing his usual smile'. Singhvi says he'd be 'very surprised' in the Congress lost Uttarakhand, though Punjab 'has been a disappointment'.
'Disillusionment in Congress is massive. Congress voters are moving away whenever there is an alternative available,' Shekhar Gupta on NDTV, adding that Amarinder Singh could have been removed peacefully. Meanwhile, Prannoy Roy says the 'polls are right'.
On ANI, delicious close-up photos of jalebis being prepared at the home of AAP CM candidate Bhagwant Mann.
‘It’s clear Navjyot Singh can defeat himself and the Congress,’ says a guest on News24 as Akali leads come in on Amritsar East. Meanwhile, Rakesh Tikait comes on board wearing a pagadi. He says the Kisan Andolan has succeeded since farmers became a priority for all parties.
India Today says AAP has taken the lead in Punjab with 65 seats. AAP spokesperson Preeti Menon says, 'This is a big moment for not just Punjab politics but the politics in the country. I think it's changed the way the Aam Aadmi Party is perceived. We are now a national party.'
Here are some early leads according to the Election Commission website at 9.25 am.
Gaurav Bhatia on India Today says the BJP is competing with India Today’s exit polls. 'We would like to beat it.'
As AAP crosses halfway mark in Punjab as per leads, party leader Raghav Chadha tells CNN-News18: 'AAP will become a national and natural replacement for the Congress in future.'
NDTV, at 9.31 am, has called it in UP and Punjab.
#ResultsWithNDTV pic.twitter.com/YlpTGAoZGu
— NDTV (@ndtv) March 10, 2022
Meanwhile on India Today...
Bhagwant Mann having the last laugh quite literally on India Today pic.twitter.com/7Ylwq9qTBI
— Manisha Pande (@MnshaP) March 10, 2022
On Republic, Arnab Goswami hands to the AAP: 'This is the biggest ever victory in the history of any political party in Punjab...Total clean sweep, biggest story of the moment.'
As BJP leads in 191 seats in UP, Zakka Jacob says, 'This is similar to what happened in 2017. You are going to get a similar picture in 2022. It's going to be roundabout 300 mark.'
While discussing the UP election, Aaj Tak transports its viewers to the ghats of Varanasi, complete with a one of a kind boat.
Rahul Shivshankar on Times Now giving the 10 am update: 'The BJP is ahead in four states...I'm not sticking out my neck and calling this election but trends are beginning to solidify in the BJP's favour.'
On India Today, Rahul Kanwal offers his political expertise to explain AAP's Raghav Chadha: 'He's the most eligible bachelor. I saw how ladies were swooning...The man's got some swag.'
India Today mulling over how Sidhu's house is 'deserted' while celebrations are ongoing for Bhagwant Mann.
'What must be going through Sidhu's head...he can't even vent his anger,' says the anchor. 'It must be a very frustrating feeling for Sidhu this morning.'
BJP's Rakesh Sinha on India Today says, 'This is a saffron wave. Now, the Nehruvian system has been replaced by the saffron system. This is the Modi age.'
Shazia Ilmi tells Rajdeep Sardesai that she's sure that he'll do a little jig if AAP wins in Punjab. Rajdeep responds, 'I will do a jig if our exit polls are perfect which they appear to be. Please join me for the jig.'
Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed tells NDTV that the Congress's falling numbers in Punjab 'is our own doing'. She adds: 'Sidhu was abusing our CM all the time.'
On CNN-New18, author Advaita Kala predicts BJP's win in Uttarakhand, calling it a 'Modi miracle.' She says, 'It's all thanks to prime minister Narendra Modi. I say this without any hyperbole, he is truly loved and respected in that state and it's a very personal connection.'
From the EC website at 10.40 pm, BJP leading in 18 seats in Goa and Congress in 12.
In UP, the BJP leading in 227 seats and the SP in 91.
On Republic, Arnab wagers that the BJP will win 300 seats in UP. He asks BJPs Ravi Kishan if he's worried at all. In response, Kishan serenades the viewers, hoping that Yogiji ko nazar na lag jaye.
— Veronica Joseph (@wohwaligirl) March 10, 2022
On India Today, journalist Sheela Bhatt thinks Muslims in UP should give BJP a chance.
'I am thinking of UP Muslims today,' she says. 'I am saying, pick and choose BJP leaders. All are not, quote unquote, anti-Muslim or communal. There are communal people in AAP and Congress also. So, it's better that you choose and share the power of BJP.'BJP."
To cleanse the palate, here's a quick round-up of stand-out graphics on news channels.
Navika Kumar all smiles on Times Now as she says, 'This time, I think it's the Congress leadership which is going to be left in the resort. And maybe someday, somebody will find enough strength to lock the door from outside.'
BJP's Rakesh Sinha on India Today: 'Rahul, that day we were talking about many myths in politics...[one of them being] any CM that visits Noida and goes back to Lucknow, he loses the election. Yogi Adityanath, being a spiritual person and also a politician, has broken this myth.'
On News18 India, anchor Amish Devgan says the Samajwadi Party has 'smartly' increased its vote share in UP because Akhilesh Yadav didn't choose the anti-Modi rhetoric.
From the EC website at 11.24 am, the BJP leading in 44 seats out of 70 in Uttarakhand, Congress in 22.
On the EC website, BJP leading in 18 seats in Manipur, NPP in 9, Congress and Naga People's Front in 4 each, and JDU in 3.
On News18 India, Amish Devgan helpfully tells the BSP spokesperson that his party now has more spokespersons than MLAs in UP.
'Open Sesame! Arey wah,' cries Rajdeep Sardesai as his 'dashboard' emerges from the floor on India Today.
Rajdeep Sardesai on India Today is quite excited about the dashboard pic.twitter.com/EQCtTgJ8nm
— Supriti David ️ (@supritidavid) March 10, 2022
On CNN-News18, BJP's Rajeev Chandrasekhar says the AAP's mandate in Punjab is a 'mandate of hopelessness', since the contest was between 'an imploding, discredited Congress, an Akali party that lost its way, and AAP'.
In lighter news, baby Kejriwal is back! 'Mini mufflerman' was spotted on India Today.
On Times Now, Navika poses a leading question to her BJP panelist Jitin Prasada: 'When you look across from Punjab to UP to Uttarakhand, are people losing faith in Congress and is dynastic politics on the hitlist of the public?'
Prasada replies politely, 'That is for you to decipher.'
From the EC website at noon. BJP leading in 249 seats in UP, SP in 111.
In Punjab, the AAP is leading in 89 seats, Congress in 18, SAD in 6.
On India Today, panelist Sandeep Shastri says that since 1952, UP has never seen the 'top two parties getting 97% of the seats'.
'They are now leading with 391 out of 401 seats,' he says. 'This has never happened in the history of UP elections that you have such a strong bipolar contest.'
Meanwhile, India Ahead's Bhupendra Chaubey has helpfully tweeted the precise times at which his channel called the results of the elections.
Noon & It's still a 4 BJP : 1 AAP
— bhupendra chaubey (@bhupendrachaube) March 10, 2022
Stay tuned for #UnbiasedCoverage only on @IndiaAheadNews
UP - @BJP4India (win at 9.15 AM)
Punjab - @AamAadmiParty (win at 9.40 AM)
Uttarakhand - BJP (win at 10 AM)
Goa - BJP
Manipur -BJP@AditiAnarayanan@tanvishukla@kitaab31@nehakhanna_07
On India Today, Amit Malviya says, 'My condolences to Rajdeep...It must be a sad day for him. He can take heart from Punjab results.'
Rajdeep hits back telling Malviya to read his piece in HT that predicted a BJP win. 'Just because I am not Godi media doesn't mean I am not a journalist,' he says.
Rahul urges everyone not to fight.
On Zee News, Sudhir Chaudhary says the Congress set a great narrative among sections of media, but some 'facts' are clear. For instance, he says, since Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took charge of UP, the party's vote share apparently fell 3%.
'Will Sonia Gandhi hold her daughter responsible for this drop?' he asks.
Rajdeep Sardesai asks Amit Malviya if he thinks AAP is a formidable challenger.
'BJP is doing well in 4 out of 5 states...and you seem to be running down the BJP's achievement,' Malviya said. 'AAP has done well in one; you seem to think they are national alternatives. That's what I call biased journalism and blinkers.'
On News18 India, Congress spokesperson Sadhna Bharti says her party might have failed to take the issues to the people but the BJP has been successful in fomenting communal frenzy and casteism.
Anchor Amish Devgan interrupts her. 'If BJP was creating communal frenzy, would it get 270 seats in UP,' he asks, going on to cite the situation in Goa and Manipur even as Bharti pleads that he let her speak.
Zee reports that Captain Amarinder Singh has lost his seat in Patiala by 19,000 votes. 'Patiala's maharaja has been defeated...Congress must be happy that Captain Amarinder Singh has lost,' says Sudhir Chaudhary.
Sidhu congratulates the AAP, saying 'the voice of people is the voice of God'.
The voice of the people is the voice of God …. Humbly accept the mandate of the people of Punjab …. Congratulations to Aap !!!
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) March 10, 2022
BJP's Ravi Kishan is very taken with Rajdeep Sardesai's 'Modi-Yogi chur ladoo' joke.
Modi-Yogi chur ladoos pic.twitter.com/v88tXr4rmc
— Supriti David ️ (@supritidavid) March 10, 2022
Manipur chief minister Biren Singh has won from Heingang by 18,000 votes, NDTV reports.
After 10 rounds of counting, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi is trailing in both constituencies – by nearly 3,000 votes in Chamkaur Sahib and 20,000 votes in Bhadaur.
Amish Devgan calls BJP the 'single largest party in Goa, almost close to winning a majority' after his channel reports that Goa CM Pramod Sawant has won from his seat.
On Zee News, Sudhir Chaudhary asks BJP's Prakash Javadekar if the AAP's victory in Punjab is a threat to India's federal structure, given how non-BJP state governments 'do not cooperate' with the centre. The AAP had faced 'allegations' of links to the Khalistan movement,
'We will discuss the AAP's model in the party later,' says Javadekar. 'Today, they have won, so I congratulate them.'
Party time in India Today.
Chalo. Shuru pic.twitter.com/wsOW9iQdtu
— Manisha Pande (@MnshaP) March 10, 2022
Aaj Tak celebrating BJP's performance in UP with a video montage of Moji and Yogi with the song Srivalli from the movie Pushpa.
Get yourself someone who celebrates you like Aaj Tak does Modiji pic.twitter.com/O53mDmQhL9
— Veronica Joseph (@wohwaligirl) March 10, 2022
In Punjab's Malerkotla, 3-time Congress MLA and former cabinet minister Razia Sultana is trailing behind AAP's Mohammad Jamil Ur Rahman by 18,000 votes. 13 rounds of counting are over.
TOI quotes Manipur CM Biren Singh as saying the BJP will 'form government with full majority' in the state.
In Goa, BJP leaders will meet the Goa governor today to 'stake claim for government formation in the state', ANI reports.
#GoaElections2022 | Bharatiya Janata Party leaders to meet Goa Governor P.S.Sreedharan Pillai today to stake claim for government formation in the state
— ANI (@ANI) March 10, 2022
Baby Yogi is coming for Baby Kejriwal on India Today.
On TV9 Bharatvarsh, discussing Yogi’s ‘bulldozer baba’ image and his record on UP’s law and order situation, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain is surprised as the anchor tells him that there is a bulldozer in the studio too.
'Khuda na kare ki aapke daftar pe bulldozer chale (god forbid a bulldozer shouldn’t move on your office premises),' he says, before the anchor tells him ‘nahin nahin Shahnawaz bhai, ye graphics se chal raha hai (no, these are graphics)’.
The BJP leader then says ‘graphic mein theek hai (it is fine in a graphic).’
It's just shy of 2 pm so here's a round-up of data across states from the EC website.
Captain Amarinder Singh congratulates the AAP, says 'democracy has triumphed'.
I accept the verdict of the people with all humility. Democracy has triumphed. Punjabis have shown true spirit of Punjabiyat by rising and voting above sectarian and caste lines.
— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 10, 2022
Congratulations to @AAPPunjab and @BhagwantMann.
In Varanasi, Republic Bharat's reporter says the enthusiastic crowd has been glued to the channel 'since morning'.
'Ek taraf baba ka bulldozer chal raha hai, dusra taraf Republic Bharat,' she says. (Republic Bharat and Yogi's bulldozer prevail.)
If that's not enough for a channel that claims to have the poll results '100 percent' correct, the reporter then chats with a student who is a big fan of 'Arnab sir'.
Newslaundry is on the ground in Punjab, where AAP chief minister candidate Bhagwant Mann addressed the crowd with his mother at his side.
सुखबीर, सिद्धू, कैप्टन सब गए, चन्नी तो दोनों सीट पर गए. - #BhagwantMaan #AssemblyElections #PunjabElections2022 # pic.twitter.com/K0hIvXwZMr
— Ashwine kumar singh (@AshwineSingh) March 10, 2022
Republic takes a break from regular programming to say its exit poll is '100% match' and that it got '5 states spot on'.
Discussing seats with a significant Muslim population in UP, India TV managing editor Ajay Kumar says the ‘votebank’ is not monolithic.
‘The BJP has also benefited from this votebank,’ he says, arguing that the BJP couldn't have received so many votes without Muslims' support.
Showing a clip from Wednesday, of Rahul Gandhi playing badminton, Sudhir Chaudhary on Zee News says, ‘Even when he loses a point, the ones around him applaud him on how well he played. This is the truth of the Gandhi family. Even now when he is making wrong decisions and losing, people around him will still applaud him.’
‘We all love you Punjab…badi badi kursiyaan hil gayin hain Punjab mein (thrones have been shaken in Punjab),’ Arvind Kejriwal addresses supporters at the AAP office in Delhi.
देश में ईमानदार राजनीति की नई उम्मीदों की ये शानदार जीत आप सभी को मुबारक हो | LIVE https://t.co/di2lAP83FJ
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) March 10, 2022
Commenting on the party's loss in Punjab on NDTV, Congress spokesperson Aadil Singh Boparai says, ‘The infighting has taken a toll on us…I certainly think we need to go back to the drawing board…I think there is an urgent need for introspection.’
TV9 Bharatvarsh news director Hemant asks union minister Smriti Irani how the BJP got more seats in 2017 without the ‘bulldozer’. The BJP leader says the results haven’t been fully declared. ‘But even this much wasn’t expected by some political analysts,’ she adds.
On News18 India, a reporter at the CM’s residence in Uttarakhand talks about how ‘unlucky’ the property is, mentioning the incumbents who never returned to power. ‘Pushkar Singh Dhami did a six-day puja and got rid of all the negative energy,’ the reporter says.
Republic Bharat is not the only one to get ‘100 percent’ correct results. With three ‘dholwalas’ in the studio, the anchor on India News also announces that the channel's exit poll was ‘exact’ in terms of seats and vote share.
In Manipur, results have been declared for 53 segments, as the BJP inches closer to victory with 26 seats so far. The party’s Usham Deben Singh has defeated Congress’s Fajur Rahman in Wabgai with a margin of 50 votes – the thinnest in the state this time.
‘Away from emotive issues, we will take the meaningful ones to people. We may not have succeeded this time, but it doesn’t mean that these issues are not meaningful,’ Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala at the party office in Delhi.
LIVE: Special Congress Party Briefing by Shri @rssurjewala at the AICC HQ. https://t.co/0we2vPsbDn
— Congress (@INCIndia) March 10, 2022
Some quick numbers from the Election Commission website at 4.45 pm.
In Punjab, the AAP has won in 66 constituencies and is leading in 26. The Congress has won 11 and is leading in 7.
In Manipur, out of 60 constituencies, the BJP has won 14 and is leading in 13.
In Goa, the BJP has won 18 and is leading in 2; the Congress has won 7 and is leading in 4.
In Uttarakhand, the BJP has won 9 and is leading in 38.
And in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP has won 18 and is leading in 235. The SP is leading in 115.
For election analysis from Newslaundry's Manisha, Atul and Meghnad, tune into our YouTube live.
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