exit polls: Cong projected ahead

exit polls: Cong projected

New Delhi: The Congress-led UPA has been projected to have an edge over NDA and others in the Lok Sabha elections which are expected to produce a highly-fractured verdict, exit polls on television news channels predict.
The results of the surveys, shown by the channels at the end of the fifth and final phase of polling in the month-long exercise, have placed the BJP-led NDA not very far behind the UPA and the Third Front at a little over 100 seats.
Headlines Today channel gave Congress and its allies 191 seats against 180 to BJP and its allies. The Left parties, which played a crucial role in the outgoing Lok Sabha with 60 seats, has been projected to get 38 while 'Others' including the BSP are set to get 134 in a House of 543.
In its projections, India TV channel said UPA would get between 195 seats and it could go up to 227 if 32 seats of RJD, LJP and SP are added. The channel has given NDA 189 and the Third Front 113. 'Others' are projected to get 14 seats.
Exit polls had been way off the mark in 2004 Lok Sabha polls, with most of them projecting BJP-led NDA as the winner which did not turn out to be correct. Ultimately, in 2004 elections the Congress and its pre-poll allies got 216 seats against a projection ranging from 170 to 205 seats. The BJP-led NDA had secured 187 seats against the projections of over 240 to 250 seats.
In the predictions by NewsX channel, the UPA has been projected to get 199 seats against 191 of NDA while the Third Front gets 104 and 'Others' 48. Congress alone is expected to get 155 and BJP two less.
UTVi channel gives UPA 195 and along with SP, LJP and RJD, it gets 227. The NDA has been given 189 seats and 'Others' 14.
In its projections, Times Now gave UPA 198 including 154 for Congress, and NDA getting 183 with 142 for BJP. The Third Front is likely to get 112 including 38 for the Left parties. 'Others' are projected to get 50 seats.
Star News channel put the tally for UPA at 199 with Congress alone expected to get 155. The NDA is tipped to get 196 including 153 for BJP and the Third Front 100. 'Others’ are expected to get 48 seats. CNN-IBN

At NDA's big rally, Modi is speaking star

Ludhiana: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday had the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally in Ludhiana entertained, speaking on such diverse issues as Tamils in Sri Lanka and the death sentence given to a terrorist.
Modi alleged Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement on Afzal Guru, who has been given death sentence for his role in the attack on Parliament in December 2001, was "misleading".Ludhiana: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday had the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally in Ludhiana entertained, speaking on such diverse issues as Tamils in Sri Lanka and the death sentence given to a terrorist.
Modi alleged Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement on Afzal Guru, who has been given death sentence for his role in the attack on Parliament in December 2001, was "misleading".
"I want to tell you that the Congress is fooling people on this issue. They are throwing dust in the eyes of people. The Congress is sitting on the order to hang him," said Modi.
He accused the Congress of sitting on the file of Afzal Guru for the sake of vote bank politics.
Gandhi has said that Afzal's name was at number 22 in the list of people to be hanged. Modi called this “the most ridiculous statement."
"In Congress regime there is a huge line for everything, be it for getting ration cards, gas connections. Congress General Secretary (Rahul) says Afzal is in queue. Never before have we heard that even for hanging a person, there is a queue. This is unfortunate for the country".
The BJP leader said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were insensitive to the sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka and more concerned about letting off Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a suspect in the Bofors payoff case.
“The PM had said that if Quattrocchi is innocent, then he should not face any inconvenience. I would like to ask the PM what about my Tamil brothers who are bearing atrocities in Sri Lanka,” he said.
"This fast-unto-death must be the only one of its kind in the world. It lasted for just four hours. It started after he (Karunanidhi) had his breakfast and ended before lunch," Modi told an election rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies in this industrial city of Punjab Sunday.
"I cannot understand what kind of a fast was this," Modi wondered.
Modi praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Nitish Kumar has done a lot for the development of agriculture in Bihar," Modi said.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, reacting to Modi's comments on Afzal Guru, said it showed the BJP leader's "duality".
Singhvi said that the queue of people on death row was from 1998 to 2006, during which time the NDA was in power till 2004. "Afzal's number is 22 in the queue. Before clearing the backlog, the BJP expects the government to go straight to number 22, just because of his religion."
(With inputs from IANS and PTI. )
"I want to tell you that the Congress is fooling people on this issue. They are throwing dust in the eyes of people. The Congress is sitting on the order to hang him," said Modi.
He accused the Congress of sitting on the file of Afzal Guru for the sake of vote bank politics.
Gandhi has said that Afzal's name was at number 22 in the list of people to be hanged. Modi called this “the most ridiculous statement."
"In Congress regime there is a huge line for everything, be it for getting ration cards, gas connections. Congress General Secretary (Rahul) says Afzal is in queue. Never before have we heard that even for hanging a person, there is a queue. This is unfortunate for the country".
The BJP leader said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were insensitive to the sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka and more concerned about letting off Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a suspect in the Bofors payoff case.
“The PM had said that if Quattrocchi is innocent, then he should not face any inconvenience. I would like to ask the PM what about my Tamil brothers who are bearing atrocities in Sri Lanka,” he said.
"This fast-unto-death must be the only one of its kind in the world. It lasted for just four hours. It started after he (Karunanidhi) had his breakfast and ended before lunch," Modi told an election rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies in this industrial city of Punjab Sunday.
"I cannot understand what kind of a fast was this," Modi wondered.
Modi praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Nitish Kumar has done a lot for the development of agriculture in Bihar," Modi said.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, reacting to Modi's comments on Afzal Guru, said it showed the BJP leader's "duality".
Singhvi said that the queue of people on death row was from 1998 to 2006, during which time the NDA was in power till 2004. "Afzal's number is 22 in the queue. Before clearing the backlog, the BJP expects the government to go straight to number 22, just because of his religion."
(With inputs from IANS and PTI. )Ludhiana: Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday had the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally in Ludhiana entertained, speaking on such diverse issues as Tamils in Sri Lanka and the death sentence given to a terrorist.
Modi alleged Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's statement on Afzal Guru, who has been given death sentence for his role in the attack on Parliament in December 2001, was "misleading".
"I want to tell you that the Congress is fooling people on this issue. They are throwing dust in the eyes of people. The Congress is sitting on the order to hang him," said Modi.
He accused the Congress of sitting on the file of Afzal Guru for the sake of vote bank politics.
Gandhi has said that Afzal's name was at number 22 in the list of people to be hanged. Modi called this “the most ridiculous statement."
"In Congress regime there is a huge line for everything, be it for getting ration cards, gas connections. Congress General Secretary (Rahul) says Afzal is in queue. Never before have we heard that even for hanging a person, there is a queue. This is unfortunate for the country".
The BJP leader said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were insensitive to the sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka and more concerned about letting off Italian businessman Ottavio Quattrocchi, a suspect in the Bofors payoff case.
“The PM had said that if Quattrocchi is innocent, then he should not face any inconvenience. I would like to ask the PM what about my Tamil brothers who are bearing atrocities in Sri Lanka,” he said.
"This fast-unto-death must be the only one of its kind in the world. It lasted for just four hours. It started after he (Karunanidhi) had his breakfast and ended before lunch," Modi told an election rally of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies in this industrial city of Punjab Sunday.
"I cannot understand what kind of a fast was this," Modi wondered.
Modi praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. "Nitish Kumar has done a lot for the development of agriculture in Bihar," Modi said.
Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi, reacting to Modi's comments on Afzal Guru, said it showed the BJP leader's "duality".
Singhvi said that the queue of people on death row was from 1998 to 2006, during which time the NDA was in power till 2004. "Afzal's number is 22 in the queue. Before clearing the backlog, the BJP expects the government to go straight to number 22, just because of his religion."
(With inputs from IANS and PTI. )

: Rajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by 78 runs to win the 30th match of the second edition of the Indian Premier League at Kingsmead in
Rajasthan Royals' Graeme SmRajasthan Royals beat Kings XI Punjab by 78 runs5 May 2009, TIMESOFINDIA.COM
NEW DELHIith celebrates his half-century against Kings XI Punjab at Kingsmead in Durban on May 5, 2009. (AFP Photo)Durban on Chasing a stiff victory target of 212 runs, Punjab managed 133/8 in 20 overs. Graeme Smith was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding 44-ball 77. Amit Singh took 3 wickets for 9 runs, while his captain Shane Warne took 2 wickets as Rajasthan climbed to the second spot in the points table. Captain Yuvraj Singh top scored for Punjab with a 37-ball 48 with the help of 3 sixes and 3 fours before Amit Singh had him caught at square leg by Shane Harwood. Warne struck in his second over when he trapped Irfan Pathan (19) plumb in front of the wicket and in his next over had Piyush Chawla (6) caught at long-on by Ravindra Jadeja. Kings XI Punjab were staring down the barrel at 53/5 in 10 overs. The Punjab slide started from the very first ball when opener Sunny Sohal edged a Amit Singh delivery to first slip for Rajasthan captain Shane Warne to take the catch. Five balls later, Karan Goel (1) edged to fine leg for Shane Harwood to take the catch. Siddharth Trivedi struck next when Simon Katich (10) edged a full toss onto his stumps in the fifth over. Yusuf Pathan then foxed Kumar Sangakkara (11) by drawing him out of the crease and having him stumped by keeper Naman Ojha. The fifth Punjab wicket fell to Shane Harwood who had Mahela Jayawardene (9) caught at third man by Trivedi. Punjab had lost half of their side even before Warne came in the attack. Earlier, defending champions Rajasthan Royals slammed 211/4 in 20 overs. Rajasthan's huge total was powered by superb knocks by Graeme Smith and Naman Ojha and useful contributions by Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan and Lee Carseldine as the defending champions registered the highest total in IPL 2009. Smith and Ojha gave Rajasthan a superb start with a partnership of 135 runs under 15 overs. Smith's 77-run knock came off 44 balls and was studded with a six and 12 fours. His knock ended when Ramesh Powar had him caught at long-on by Piyush Chawla. Pathan hit a six and a four in his 7-ball 12 before Chawla had him caught at long-off by Karan Goel. Chawla struck again in the same over when he ended Ojha's excellent knock by having him caught by Simon Katich at mid-wicket. Ojha hit 5 fours and 5 sixes in his 51-ball 68. It was Jadeja who brought up the 200 for Rajasthan and he hit a six and 5 fours in his 12-ball 33 before he was dismissed by Irfan Pathan. Kings XI Punjab failed to make early inroads as Smith and Ojha took Rajasthan Royals to 92/0 in 10 overs. Choosing to bowl first on a pitch that has a tinge of green Punjab captain opted to open the bowling with Ramesh Powar and he ended up bowling the most expensive first over of this IPL as Ojha hit him for 2 sixes and a four. The move to open the innings with Ojha worked to perfection as he has raced to 44 off 38 deliveries with the help of 3 sixes and 4 ffours. For Punjab, S Sreesanth replaces Vikramjeet Malik and for Rajasthan, Niraj Patel comes in for Swapnil Asnodkar and Amit Singh replaces Munaf Patel, who has been rested. Teams: Kings XI Punjab: Yuvraj Singh (Capt.), Simon Katich, Sunny Sohal, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Tanmay Srivastava, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Yusuf Abdulla. Rajasthan Royals: Shane Warne (Capt.), Graeme Smith, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Niraj Patel, Lee Carseldine, Naman Ojha, Abhishek Raut, Shane Harwood, Siddharth Trivedi, Amit Singh.