BUILDING, ARMED GUARDS; VOTES BEING COUNTED; SCRUTINEERS; CHECKING PAPERS.




Initials PK/V/BH/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: INDIA'S RULING CONGRESS PARTY TODAY (TUESDAY) FAILED TO REGAIN POWER IN THE WEALTHY AGRICULTURAL STATE OF PUNJAB -- ONE OF FOUR NORTHERN PROVINCES ELECTING NEW ASSEMBLIES. THE CONGRESS, WHICH LOST POWER IN THE 1967 GENERAL ELECTIONS, HAD GAINED ONLY 38 OF THE 104 SEATS IN PUNJAB. IN CALCUTTA, CAPITAL OF WEST BENGAL, COUNTING BEGAN YESTERDAY, AND EARLY RESULTS SHOWED THE UNITED FRONT AHEAD OF THE CONGRESS PARTY IN THIS ELECTORATE.

A HUGE CROWD WAITED OUTSIDE THE GUARDED ELECTION BUILDING WHERE THE COUNTING WAS IN PROGRESS, AS EARLY RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED.

ELECTIONS WERE ALSO HELD IN BIHAR AND UTTER PRADESH STATES.

TOGETHER, THE FOUR STATES HAVE A TOTAL POPULATION OF 200 MILLION, AND IT IS CONSIDERED THE ELECTIONS WILL NOT ONLY DETERMINE THE POLITICAL PATTERN OF NORTHERN INDIA, BUT WILL BE A POINTER TO THE LONG-TERM FUTURE OF THE CONGRESS PARTY, LED BY PRIME MINISTER MRS. INDIRA GANDHI.

THE CONGRESS APPEARED TO BE HEADING FOR A MAJORITY IN THE UTTER PRADESH STATE, BUT THERE IS NO INDICATION OF THE TREND YET IN BIHAR.