AFP

NEW DELHI THE Congress on Tuesday emerged as the single largest party in Uttarakhand with 32 members, a notch ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 31 in the 70-member assembly.

The hung assembly was expected see hectic political negotiations in coming days as both the parties claimed to form the new government in the hill state where Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and other smaller parties have together bagged seven seats. Their support will hold the key to government formation to help either of the big parties cross the simple majority mark of 35.Uttarakhand battle heads for close finish between BJP, Congress According to the voting results on Tuesday evening, the BJP and the Congress had won 28 seats each. But the opposition Congress held an edge as it was leading on four seats while the ruling BJP was leading on three.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) which may hold the key to the government formation in the hill state won three seats and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal-Panwar one.

Others have won three seats. The BJP faced a major setback with Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri losing to S.S
Negi of the Congress in Kotdwar by over 4,600 votes.

But BJP state president Bishan Singh Chufal won from Didihaat defeating his closest rival Rewati Joshi of the Congress by over 10,600 votes. Both the Congress and the BJP have already expressed confidence they would form the new government.