MAHARASHTRA (Seats 48): The Congress tie up with SP and RPI is likely to make it a formidable combination against the BJP -Shiv Sena and help improve its tally from 15 in 1996 to 25.
UTTAR PRADESH (Seats 85): With Congress, SP and BSP likely to contest on their own in most seats, the BJP will sweep the state. Tally: 68.
KARNATAKA (Seats 28): The BJP s alliance with Ramakrishna Hegdes Lok Shakti will help it emerge as the single largest group followed closely by Congress. The JD will have to be content with only three seats.
BIHAR (Seats 54): The split in JD will benefit the BJP -Samata alliance, improving its tally from 18 seats to 30. The Laloo- Congress alliance will get 18 seats; the JD five.
ANDHRA PRADESH (Seats 42): The BJP pact with Lakshmi Parvathi may help Congress wean away some votes from Naidu, thereby increasing its tally from the 22 it won last time.
WEST BENGAL (Seats 42): The Congress split will be to the advantage of the Left parties which are likely to increase their tally to 38.
MADHYA PRADESH (Seats 40): Congress likely to gain its position but the BJP still ahead and expected to keep its 1996 tally of 27 seats.
TAMIL NADU (Seats 39): The BJP -AIADMK alliance unlikely to make a large dent in DMK -TMC which will end up with 36 seats.
GUJARAT (Seats 26): The BJP will make inroads into Shankersinh Vaghelas RJP at the expense of the Congress. The BJP is now expected to get 18 seats instead of its earlier tally of 16.
RAJASTHAN (Seats 25): The BJP is likely to improve its position vis- a- vis the Congress and win 15 seats against the Congress 10.
