Election counts in India show BJP in lead

India's ruling coalition, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, the BJP, was leading yesterday over its rival Congress party, as vote-counting continued through the night. But the 24-party National Democratic Alliance of the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, was not expected to secure an impressive parliamentary majority, as predicted by the exit polls, after voting in India's third election in as many years ended at the weekend.

In 501 of 537 constituencies, the Hindu nationalist-led bloc was ahead last evening in 258, with the Congress party, led by the Italian-born Ms Sonia Gandhi, in front in 137, the private Star news television channel reported.

The smaller regional parties were leading in 106 constituencies.

Of the 80 seats declared, the BJP had won 37, the Congress 21 and the remaining parties 22 seats. The BJP, however, created a massive upset by winning all seven Delhi parliamentary seats.

Mr Vajpayee, from Lucknow, 350 miles east of New Delhi, won handily, while Ms Gandhi was leading by 30,000 votes in Ballary in the south, one of two seats she is contesting.

Ms Gandhi is also projected to win by a handsome margin in Amethi, the pocket borough of her late husband, Rajiv, 500 miles east of Delhi. Projections by psephologists indicated that the BJP-led alliance would be the largest group, securing around 288 seats, 16 more than the 272 needed for a parliamentary majority it lost in April by a single vote.

"Such a slender majority was bound to lead to political instability, especially as there are 24 members in the alliance " said Mr Dorab Sopariwala, a poll analyst.

BJP leaders also expressed "cautious optimism" yesterday about their imminent victory. Meanwhile, protected by police and paramilitary personnel, election officials broke open the wax seals on metal ballot boxes in large halls and tents across the country. At 8 a.m. the laborious count of over 350 million votes began, which will continue non-stop until the results are complete.

The Election Commissioner, Mr Mohinder Singh Gill, yesterday said all results would be posted by this evening and parliament summoned by October 10th.

Ballot papers were distributed at scores of long tables where each one is opened and each vote registered on a chart while the arduous procedure is watched over carefully by rival political parties.

None of the counting officials - all government employees - can leave the counting centre until the tally has been checked at least twice.

On an experimental basis, electronic voting machines were used in 45 constituencies, the results of which were declared by noon yesterday.