Opinion poll predicts hung assembly in Assam

NEW DELHI: Assam may throw up a hung assembly with BJP and the ruling Congress there engaged in a neck and neck fight while Left Democratic Front could oust the Congress-led alliance in Kerala, an opinion poll has projected.

Both the ruling parties Trinamool Congress in West Bengal and AIADMK in Tamil Nadu are poised to return to power, according to a press release issued by India TV, which has carried out the opinion poll in collaboration with C-Voter.

The opinion poll projects that the BJP-led alliance in Assam could win 55 seats in a House of 126, nine short of majority while Congress led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is projected to win 53 seats, down from 78 it had won five years ago.

The BJP-led alliance includes the AGP and Bodo People's Front.

Badruddin Ajmal's All India United Democratic Front is projected to win 12 seats, six less than last time, while 'Others' may win six seats.

In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front is projected to get a comfortable majority with 86 seats in a House of 140, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front, which is currently ruling the state, is projected to get 53 seats.

The opinion poll says that the BJP-led alliance may win only one seat there.

In West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is projected to retain power, with her party Trinamool Congress likely to win 160 seats in a House of 294, the opinion poll says. This is 24 seats less than 184 the party had got five years ago, scoring a land slide victory.

Left Front and Congress, which are fighting the state under a strategic understanding this time could win a total of 127 seats together---106 and 21 respectively. The poll projects the BJP winning only four and 'others' three seats.

This means the Left Front's tally may go up to 106 seats, up from 60 seats five years ago, while the Congress share of seats may shrink from 42 five years ago to 21 this time.

In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister J Jayalalitha's AIADMK-led combine may get a comfortable majority with 130 seats in a House of 234 while the DMK-Congress alliance is projected to secure 70 seats. Others may win 34 seats.

The poll was conducted in the fourth week of March according to C-Voter, the release said.