NDA to be single-largest formation, but will need more allies to form govt

Poll predicts major gains for the BJP from Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would be the single-largest formation in the Lok Sabha elections, but would need many more allies than at present to form the government, a Times Now C-Voter poll said.

While the poll predicts major gains for the BJP in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar and even gives it a seat in Kerala, where it has not won a single one in recent times, it suggests its prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's charisma has not worked to the extent the party had hoped. Therefore, the BJP will need a lot of negotiation to increase its allies to reach the 272 seats. Among some the BJP will have to embrace are the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Samajwadi Party (SP) in Uttar Pradesh, which, the poll showed, had not slipped significantly.

The Congress is likely to be trounced, the poll suggested. In its electoral bulwark, Andhra Pradesh, where it has 33 seats, Congress could end up with six. In Haryana, where it has nine of the 10, it may get one. In Uttar Pradesh, 21, the Congress may get four. (LOK SABHA POLLS: TURN RIGHT)

The Aam Admi Party (AAP) is unlikely to repeat its spectacular Delhi performance. It is unlikely to cross 10, with the majority coming from Delhi (3).

The biggest chunk of non-Congress, non-BJP votes will come from Tamil Nadu, where the Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK could get 27 seats, maybe 30, taking into account its pre-poll allies. This will be closely followed by the Trinamul Congress in West Bengal , where it could get 24 seats, up from 19.

In numerical terms, 'others', or loosely the third front, could get 205-225 seats, up from 125. However, since this is not a cohesive formation, the gains could be lost.