UPA returns to power
Congress sweeps to biggest victory since 1991, touches the 200 mark; 
Manmohan first PM after Nehru to complete a full term and then return for second
New Delhi, May 16
The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) today raced to an unexpected decisive victory in what was billed as one of the most unpredictable Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was clearly the man of the moment as he scripted history by becoming the first Prime Minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to come back to power after completing a full term in office.

	Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Saturday. Tribune photo: Mukesh Aggarwal

Editorial It’s affirmation of a functioning democracy by H.K. Dua By winning the elections to the 15th Lok Sabha, the Congress-led UPA has certainly pulled the nation out of the jaws of political instability that was worrying most countrymen all these months.

Rahul’s two-pronged strategy worked
New Delhi, May 16
A two-pronged strategy adopted by Rahul Gandhi has worked wonders for the revival of the Congress in UP and placed him on a higher pedestal within the party. He has definitely graduated into a shrewd strategist while emerging from his mother’s shadow.

Cong clean sweep in Delhi
New Delhi, May 16
The Congress has swept all of the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi with a heavy margin, improving upon its last times tally of six. The Congress win came amidst stiff opposition from parties that raised issues like 1984 anti-sikh riots, inflation, fee hike, water and power shortage in Delhi.

It’s Cong all the way in U’khand
Dehradun, May 16
The Congress has won all five seats in Uttarakhand. This has come as a major setback for the BJP in the state. It is after more than 20 years that the Congress has been able to perform well in the plains as well as hill areas of Uttarakhand.

Orissa Assembly
Big win for Patnaik
Bhubaneswar, May 16
Orissa's Biju Janata Dal (BJD) of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Saturday scored a landslide victory securing over 100 seats in the 147-member assembly. The BJD rivals - the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - came distant second and third respectively.

Kerala
Left bastion crumbles
Thiruvanthapuram, May 16
Inflicting a crushing blow to the ruling CPM-led LDF in Kerala, a resurgent Congress-led UDF bagged 16 of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in a virtual reversal of the 2004 verdict. The CPM barely managed to hold on to its traditional fortresses like Palakkad, Alathur, Kasargode and Attingal.