UP poll results below expectations : Gadkari

BJP on Tuesday said the results of Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections fell below its expectations even as the party geared itself to form governments in three other states."We are in a position to form governments in the three states of Punjab, Goa and Uttarakhand...I am confident that this result will give strength to the BJP," party president Nitin Gadkari told reporters in New Delhi.

On the party's failure in Uttar Pradesh, Gadkari said there was polarisation of votes between the SP and the BSP.

"BJP did not get the support we expected," he said, adding that the people of Uttar Pradesh wanted to change the BSP government and so supported the Samajwadi Party.He congratulated Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal for the historic victory, as a government has been retained for the first time in the history of the state."We have created history in Punjab where for the first time the government has been retained," Gadkari said while lauding Badal for the performance of the SAD-BJP combine.

He said the BJP was forming government in Goa too, and expressed confidence that the party would return to power in Uttarakhand."It's a big victory for us in Goa. BJP was being blamed for being against the minorities. This time Catholic Christians also voted us."

Refraining to make a comment on the leadership of the Congress campaign in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP chief said the results have given a "big shock" to the Congress."I do not want to make any comment on the Congress leadership but Congress party had made the elections a prestige issue for Rahul Gandhi. The results have come as a big shock for the party," Gadkari said.

Referring to Congress defeat in Rae Bareli and Amethi, considered as tradition Congress strongholds, he said, "The performance of the Congress shows that the people in the state have voted against the party and it serves as an alarm for them."

Lauding the "efficient" role played by the Election Commission in holding the elections, Gadkari said his party will analyze the results of the five states especially of UP and try to address the shortcomings before gearing up for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.