Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday intensified its efforts to win over Independents and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal to form a government in the state even as Congress said the verdict was not in favour of the saffron party and that it would try to cobble up a majority to continue in power.
BJP has won 34 out of the 69 seats, which went to polls, thus falling short of one seat from a clear majority. The party hopes to form a government with the support of three independents and three UKD members.
Congress has won 21 seats while Bahujan Samaj Party made it big in eight. Polling to one of the 70 constituencies in the state was earlier countermanded.
BJP's efforts seem to be fructifying as an UKD spokesperson said his party was not averse to support a government led by the saffron party at this juncture.
"But a final decision in this regard will only be taken after a meeting of the legislature party," party spokesman Shivanand Chamoli said.
All the three independents -- Gagan Singh Rajwar, Rajendra Singh Bhandari and Yashpal Benam -- were Congress rebels and both Congress and BJP were in touch with them.
"We are in touch with all candidates so as to form a new government," a top BJP leader said. Congress, which fell short of the majority mark by 14 seats, said the verdict is not in favour of the saffron party.
"The verdict is definitely not in favour of BJP. In case, we are able to get support of non-BJP and independents, we will like to form a secular government," said Congress spokesman Surendra Kumar.
State Congress chief Harish Rawat is also camping here and holding talks with UKD and independents.
Meanwhile, BJP has summoned top state leaders to elicit views on the choice of chief minister. Former Union minister B C Khanduri and former chief minister B S Koshiyari were the contenders for the top post.
Two central observers of BJP -- O P Mathur and Gopinath Munde are arriving in New Delhi on Thursday to take views of the party legislators over the choice of the post of chief minister, party spokesman Devendra Bhasin said, adding that the candidate for the post will only be announced after discussing the matter with BJP legislators.
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