INDIA, a multi cultural, multi national and multi lingual reality is a multi political party reality also. The election results would clearly demonstrate this.

This may make a stable government formation at the national level a tough task. Television networks came out with their exist polls [banned till now] and projections on the last day of voting on May 13.

They talked about a fractured polity. It was beyond their comprehension to understand the many political hues of this emerging democracy where now money and muscle are ruling the roost. As India advances industrially and leaves the vestiges of feudal setup, political landscape would be clearer.

These estimates and exist polls varied as much the country’s political scene. Projections showed, as one of the country's most fiercely contested battles for power ended after voting by some 428 million people. Election officials estimated that some 60 percent of the 714 million electorate, more than the combined population of Russia and the US. Voters voted during five phases, the longest ever spread over two months. The results will be known MAY 16.

Yet savour the projections.

Three projections put the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) slightly ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with the Congress tipped to finish as the single largest party in the 545-member Lok Sabha.

An India TV exit poll said the UPA could end up with 195-201 seats and the NDA with 189-195 seats. The UPA tally could go up to 227-237 if the seats bagged by its estranged allies were included.

The Star News-Nielsen exit poll also put the UPA marginally ahead with 199 seats, just ahead of the NDA's 191 seats. The Congress itself was expected to win 155 seats and the BJP 153, both more than what they bagged in 2004.

TimesNow television channel gave 198 seats to the UPA and 183 to the NDA, with the Communist strength in the Lok Sabha falling steeply from over 60 to 38. Smaller and regional groups are expected to win 124 seats and thus determine who gets the throne in New Delhi.

The India TV exit poll gave the wobbly Third Front -- an alliance of the Communists and regional parties -- 113-121 seats. The Star-Nielsen gave it 104 seats.

The projections mirrored the pre-election mood across the country, triggered a furious debate among pundits about who would get to rule India by cobbling a coalition of disparate groups.

The feared cliffhanger result has already forced the Congress and the BJP, to desperately scout for new allies. It is a complex political situation that allows a lot of wheeling dealing. The political class, a divided as it was has brought this result .

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