Mumbai, March 6 (IANS): A benchmark index for Indian markets provisionally closed 189 points lower Tuesday with the Congress party, the major constituent of the United Progressive Alliance government, faring poorly in assembly elections.

The election debacle for the Congress also sparked off fears of a more fragile central government.

The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,336.64 points, closed at 17,173.29 (provisional), down 189.58 points or 1.09 percent from its previous close at 17,362.87 points.

The Sensex had risen to an intra-day high of 17,691.96 points and fell to a low of 17,128.28 points.

The 50-scrip S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange ended at 5,222.4 points, down 57.95 points or 1.1 percent.

Broader markets also closed in the red with the BSE 500 index slipping 1.06 percent. The BSE midcap index was down 1.11 percent, while the BSE smallcap index closed 1.29 percent lower.