Haryana: Congress ahead but short of majority

The ruling Congress consolidated its position in Haryana bagging 40 of the 90 assembly seats even though the state appeared headed for a fractured verdict.

The Congress is six short of a simple majority in the 90-member House.

But, still it could form the government with the help of over half a dozen independents and 'others'.

The Indian National Lok Dal has so far won 32 seats.

The Akali Dal, which severed its ties with INLD ahead of the polls, made its debut in the House with its nominee Charanjit Singh winning the Kalanwali seat after defeating his nearest Congress rival Sushil Kumar Indora.

The BJP, which had broken its pre-poll

alliance with INLD, fared badly winning just four seats. Haryana Janhit Congress-BL won seven seats while BSP won one.

While INLD chief Om Prakash Chautala won the Uchana Kalan seat defeating Finance Minister Birender Singh by a margin of 621 votes, his son Ajay Chautala emerged victorious from Dabwali defeating his cousin K V Singh of Congress.

Haryana Congress Chief Phool Chand Mullana and Transport Minister Mange Ram Gupta lost from Mullana and Jind to INLD. Among other prominent winners are HJC-BL Chief Kuldeep Bishnoi, who won the Adampur and Haryana BJP President Krishan Pal Gujjar, who was declared elected from Tigaon.