India’s ruling Hindu nationalist party is headed for a clear win in three out of four state elections, according to the election commission’s website.
The crucial poll has pitted India’s opposition against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the vital national vote, scheduled in less than six months.
Ballot counting on Sunday showed the BJP was poised to wrest control of the heartland states of Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan from the Indian National Congress, India’s main opposition party.
The BJP was also likely to be re-elected in Madhya Pradesh for a record fifth term.
The Congress was comfortably leading in Telangana state which is ruled by the strong Bharat Rashtra Samithi party, formerly known as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi.
Final results are expected later on Sunday.
Elections in the five states were held last month and more than 160 million people, or a sixth of India’s electorate, were eligible to vote. Polling in India is generally done in phases owing to the large population.
Vote counting in a fifth state, Mizoram, is set for Monday where BJP’s regional ally, the Mizo National Front, is in power.
