recently made known DELHI, Dec. 4 K...

recently made known DELHI, Dec. 4 Kyodo

India's ruling Hindu nationalists won Thursday three of the four states that went to the persons recently, giving a much-needed boost to its sagging political fortunes.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) the main constituent of the ruling National Democratic Alliance coalition, twist ed power from the Congres party in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, brace of the largest states in northern India, and also came abroad on top in the tribal state of Chhattisgarh, defying many pre-election opinion polls

Congres the main opposition in succession the national level, suffered a major setback, stormed back to power in Delhi with a two-thirds majority.

at 1300 GMT, the BJP l in Madhya Pradesh with 171 seats to Congress's 37 in Rajasthan on 120 to 56 and in Chhattisgarh by dint of 51 to 36, according to Reuter stranges service. Congress led in Delhi by dint of 47 to 20.

BJP president Venkaiah Naidu said that despite the able-bodied win there would be no early federal election. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee told party workers here Wednesday to be ready for an early election.

The defeat of the Congres party has present a question mark on the leadership of India's oldest political entity headed from Italian-born Sonia Gandhi and its cast of functioning.

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