Voting for the 70 seat Delhi Assembly was held in a single phase on Wednesday — with exit polls indicating a BJP comeback. The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party is hoping to retain power for a third consecutive term while the BJP and Congress hope to stage a comeback in the national capital.
Early trends however suggest that it might prove a difficult prospect for the ruling party. Data from various analyst groups suggest that AAP is likely to be relegated to the Opposition benches with an average of 28 seats.
How many seats does a party need to form the Delhi government?
A political party or alliance must win at least 36 seats to form the Delhi government.
According to the NDTV Poll of Polls average, the ruling AAP is slated to secure 25 seats in Delhi. Meanwhile the Opposition BJP is expected to significantly improve its numbers — securing 44 constituencies. Most of the exit polls projected the Congress as winning zero to one seat.
Poll | AAP | BJP+ | Congress | Others |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chanakya Strategies | 25 to 28 | 39 to 44 | 2 to 3 | 0 |
JVC | 22 to 31 | 39 to 45 | 0 to 2 | 0 |
DV Research | 26 to 34 | 36 to 44 | 0 | 0 |
Matrize | 32 to 37 | 35 to 40 | 0 to 1 | 0 |
People's Insight | 25 to 29 | 40 to 44 | 0 to 2 | 0 |
People's Pulse | 10 to 19 | 51 to 60 | 0 to 1 | 0 |
P-Marq | 21 to 31 | 39 to 49 | 0 to 1 | 0 |
Poll Diary | 18 to 25 | 42 to 50 | 0 to 2 | 0 |
WeePreside | 46 to 52 | 18 to 23 | 0 to 1 | 0 |
The exit poll predictions have prompted exultant reactions from the BJP camp as it appears poised to end a 27 year drought in the national capital. Meanwhile AAP leaders have insisted that the forecast did not paint an accurate picture.
“I want to congratulate the people of Delhi, people of Delhi have given so much love and blessings to BJP today...in Delhi. Áapda' is leaving and BJP is coming...if somebody does fake voting, they will be caught...we have been saying about this since day one, and it's good that they have been caught...people of Delhi want a corruption-free government and they want development,” said Delhi BJP President Virendraa Sachdeva.
“It is certain that Lotus will bloom on 8th February. We will give good governance, clean Yamuna and employment in Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal is confident that he is losing,” added Parvesh Verma — the BJP candidate from New Delhi.
“I don't think all the surveys are against us. If you look at it historically, AAP doesn't come to power in surveys, but forms government eventually... We are encouraged with the voting percentage, which is close to 67% of 2020,” said AAP leader Anurag Dhanda.
“This is our fourth election, and every time exit polls did not show AAP making the govt in Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal has worked for the people of Delhi. We will see the results in favour of Aam Aadmi Party and we will form the government,” added AAP leader Sushil Gupta.
“All Exit Polls converge on one point — NOT more than TWO seats for the Congress in Delhi,” said Amit Malviya.
“Those who said Congress does not exist on the ground, will see Congress win a good number of seats... AAP will not come back. No party will get a clear majority. All three parties will get equal number of seats,” countered Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.
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