The ruling Congress has poised to regain power in Maharashtra for the third consecutive term and won a landslide victory in Arunachal Pradesh. However, it fell short of majority in Haryana. The Congress-NCP alliance which has been ruling Maharashtra for the past 10 years has won 142 in the 288-member Assembly. The party needs one more seat for a simple majority. The result of Nilanga seat in Latur district is yet to be declared. The Congress-NCP alliance has marginally improved its performance in the last elections when it got 140. The Raj Thackeray led MNS which made its debut in the Assembly by winning 13 seats played the spoilsport for the Shiv Sena-BJP combine. The saffron combine got 90 seats, which is 26 seats less than their tally in 2004. BJP got 46 and Shiv Sena 44. The spectacular showing of the Congress in Arunachal Pradesh saw the party gain a two-third majority winning 42 seats in the 60-memebr assembly. It had won 34 seats last time. In Haryana, the Congress has emerged as the single largest party winning 40 seats, six short of majority. <br/><br/>Prominent winners include Maharashtra Chief Ministers, Ashok Chavan, Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Arunachal Chief Minister, Dorjee Khandu.<br/><br/>In Maharashtra, other prominent winners include the ministers of the outgoing cabinet, Narayan Rane, Chhagan Bhujbal, Harshavardhan Shahajirao and Ajit Pawar. Union Energy Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's daughter, Praniti, has also been elected. President Pratibha Patil's son and Congress candidate Rajendra Shekhawat won Amravati seat defeating Congress rebel Sunil Deshmukh. Prominent losers include Vijaysinh Mohite Patil of NCP, leader of opposition in the Assembly, Ramdas Kadam of Shiv Sena, Poonam Mahajan of BJP, Vinod Kambli and Arun Gawli. <br/><br/>The ruling Congress in Haryana is close to power again with the party remaining just six short of majority. The party has won 40 seats. INLD has bagged 31, BJP four, Shiromani Akali Dal and BSP one each, Haryana Janhit Congress six and Independents seven. Prominent winners include Kiran Chaudhary, Sampat Singh and Randeep Singh Surjewala of the Congress, former Chief Minister and INLD Chief Om Prakash Chauthala. Mr. Chautala has won from both Uchana Kalan and Ellanabad seats. His son Ajay Singh Chautala has bagged Dabwali seat. Kuldip Bishnoi of the Haryana Janhit Congress has won the Adampur seat. Jasma Devi, wife of former Chief Minister Bhajan Lal has lost. <br/><br/>In Arunachal Pradesh, the ruling Congress stormed back to power with a two-third majority winning 42 seats in the 60-member house. NCP got five and BJP three. Ten seats have gone in favour of others. Former Chief Minister and Congress nominee, Gegong Apang lost the Tuting Yingkiong seat, which returned him seven times earlier. His son Omak Apang also lost Pasighat West. NCP Candidate and former Chief Secretary, Jomin Tayeng won from Dambuk Constituency. BJP's Tapen Siga has bagged the Daporijo seat. Lone woman Independent Candidate, Nang Sati Mein won from Namsai seat. <br/><br/>Congress says, its victory in the assembly polls is an endorsement of the policies of the UPA Government. Talking to AIR, senior party leader, Renuka Chaudhary said, it has added further responsibility to the party to rise to the expectations of the people.<br/><br/>The BJP has described the election results in the three states as disappointing. The party spokesperson, Mr. Ravi Shanker Prasad told reporters in New Delhi that in Maharashtra anti incumbency votes were divided and MNS played a big role in damaging 40 seats for BJP and Shiv Sena combine. He said the Congress performance in Haryana was not satisfactory as it could not muster absolute majority. Mr. Prasad said defection of party MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh helped Congress. He said the party would discuss its shortcomings threadbare and address the issues for defeat. <br/><br/>The Communist Party of India has said the election results are on expected lines. Speaking to AIR, CPI general secretary, Mr. A B Bardhan said people have rejected the communal forces and results are not surprising. Mr. Bardhan said the Left will work hard to regain its place.<br/><br/>The News Services Division will broadcast a special live bilingual Phone-in programme from 9.30 to 10.30 tonight on the verdict of the assembly elections. Listeners can interact with the experts in our Delhi Studios on telephone number: 011-23314444. It will be available on Rajdhani and FM Gold Channels and additional frequencies.<br/><br/>BJP says the Congress has benefited from the division of votes of the opposition parties in Maharashtra and Haryana. Speaking to AIR, party leader Mr Vijay Goel, in charge of Haryana, said Indian National Lok Dal and Haryana Jan Hit Congress split the votes and Congress gained from it. He, however, said the party has got more votes this time in Haryana.