The Biggest Stories of March 9, 2017

Poll of exit polls in Uttar Pradesh showed the BJP getting 211 of the state's 403 assembly seats, which would put it safely past the 202 needed to form government; Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has done a neat u-turn today saying his Samajwadi Party is open to a partnership with arch-rival Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh if needed; An average of five exit polls in Punjab shows the Congress and AAP placed almost neck-and-neck. The Congress is tipped to win 54 of 117 seats, two more than AAP, in the aggregate; Two out of four exit polls so far show the BJP scoring a big win in Uttarakhand, one shows the party ahead while one shows a repeat of 2012, when the party was neck and neck with the Congress; Two out of four exit polls so far show the BJP scoring a big win in Uttarakhand, one shows the party ahead while one shows a repeat of 2012, when the party was neck and neck with the Congress. The poll of exit polls indicates that the BJP is likely to retain Goa again. The party is way ahead of the Congress, with 18 of the state's 40 seats; all this and more in our news wrap pf the day.