The regional Samajwadi Party (SP) of Mulayam Singh Yadav swept the assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, politically the most important state in India, by bagging 224 seats in a house of 403.

The ruling Bahujan Samaj Party of Chief Minister Mayawati was rejected by voters and got just 86 seats. The Samajwadi supremo, Mulayam Singh Yadav, is likely to be the next UP chief minister.

The ruling Congress, which is leading the federal UPA government, suffered humiliation not only in UP but also in Punjab and Goa. The saving grace came from the northeast where in Manipur the Congress won the elections and Uttarakhand where it might be able to form a coalition government.

Elections were held in five states — UP, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur and Goa — and counting took place yesterday.

The results of the assembly polls, especially the UP state, have sent shock waves in Congress after it lost its stronghold of Rae Bareli  and Amethi despite massive campaigning by Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka and party President Sonia Gandhi.

“I stood in front, so it is my responsibility,” 41-year-old Gandhi told reporters as he conceded defeat. “All of us in the Congress party fought. We fought well but the result which came was not so good.”

“Certainly I expect to have victories along the way and I expect to have defeats,” Rahul added, explaining that revitalizing Congress in UP was a long-term project. “This is one of the defeats so I take it in my stride.”

Experts feel that the results will decide the future course of politics at the national level and it might lead the country toward a midterm general elections which is otherwise due in 2014.

“Voters have made it clear that they want change and are not going to be swayed by more rhetoric,” said Akhilesh Yadav, son of Mulayam.

In UP the Congress, in alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal led by Ajit Singh, won only 37 seats. The BJP won 47 seats and independent and small parties bagged 15 seats.

In neighboring Uttarakhand, the ruling BJP was relegated to second position with 31 seats while the Congress and alliance won 32 seats. The BSP got 3 seats and others 4 seats in a house of 70, opening up the prospects of coalition.

In Punjab, the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal led by Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal won 68 seats and will retain power. The Congress won 46 while others won 3 seats in an assembly of 117.

In northeastern state of Manipur, Congress retained power by winning 42 seats, while BJP was not able to open its account in the state and the remaining seats were won by others in a house of 60.

In the coastal state of Goa, Congress won only nine seats, BJP 24 and others seven in an assembly of 40.