Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is leading in 48 seats while ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 22, show early trends in counting for the Delhi assembly elections, indicating that the saffron party might stage a comeback to power in the national capital after more than 26 years.
The Congress, however, appears to be in a tough position to open its account in Delhi assembly again, unless some last moment turnaround happens in the counting which began at 8 am on Saturday.
Going by the Election Commission of India counting trends, the BJP has crossed the majority mark to form the government in the national capital, ending the political drought.
All the top leaders of the AAP, including present Chief Minister Atishi, former CM and party mascot Arvind Kejriwal, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, are behind their BJP rival candidates.
Only outgoing Delhi Minister Gopal Rai is leading comfortably from Babarpur by more than 22,500 votes against the BJP’s Anil Kumar Vashisht, as per the latest trends of counting.
Kejriwal is trailing against BJP candidate Parvesh Sahib Singh by 1170 votes while former Congress CM Sheila Dikshit’s son Sandeep Dikshit was at the third position, with 9 out of 13 rounds of counting is in progress.
The trends show that this election is emerging as a referendum against Kejriwal whose party has ruled Delhi for the last ten years.
In Kalkaji seat, BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri was leading with 2882 votes against present AAP CM Atishi and Congress’ Alka Lamba was far behind both.
Another AAP heavyweight and minister Saurabh Bharadwaj was behind BJP candidate Shikha Roy in the battle for Greater Kailash seat, by 1003 votes and Garvit Singhvi of Congress was at third position.
Singhvi has so far got 3903 votes, as per the counting trends available at the Election Commission of India website which is more than the leading margin between the BJP and Congress candidates.
This shows Congress is emerging as “vote katua” or the disruptor in the Delhi assembly polls.
If the trends solidify into final result, Sandeep Dikshit may also end up being the spoilsport for Kejriwal in the New Delhi seat.
In 11 Muslim dominated seats of assembly where minority vote is about 55 per cent and above, the AAP appears to have retained its hold.
It’s leading on 7 to 8 constituencies such as Chandi Chowk, Matial Mahal, Balimaran, Okhla, Seelampur. The BJP, on the other side, is ahead in Kerawal Nagar, and Mustafabad.
On 12 SC reserved assembly segments, the AAP is holding on to majority of seats as per the trends available, indicating that the poor and the marginalised section of the society have continued with their trust in Kejriwal, owing largely to social welfare scheme like free electricity, and water.
On the other hand, the urban centres have opted for the BJP, with political pundits suggesting that the middle class has largely moved away form the AAP this time and one of the reason is tax rebate offered in the General Budget to the salaried class.
Meanwhile, early celebrations have started in the BJP’s Delhi and national office. PM Narendra Modi will reach the party’s national office at 7 pm.
Reacting to the early trends, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said this poll was a contest between good governance and bad governance.
“The situation in Delhi–contaminated water, broken roads, poor sanitation, pollution in Yamuna, and much more–is a reflection of Kejriwal’s model of governance, which the people of Delhi have rejected,” Sachdeva emphasised.
“On the other hand, Modi ji’s model of good governance is one that the entire nation respects. People have chosen good governance,” he stated.
On AAP’s prominent faces Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj trailing in the results coming in, the Delhi BJP Chief claimed they will lose the elections as they have cheated the public.
“Their prominent leaders will lose the elections because they have betrayed the public. Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Atishi–these are all faces of corruption. The people will not forgive them,” Virendra Sachdeva said.
On February 5 polling, the total voter turnout recorded was 60.54 per cent.
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