New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) surged past the halfway mark within an hour of vote counting on Saturday, positioning itself for a potential return to power in the Delhi Assembly after 26 years. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while trailing, continues to put up a strong fight.
The counting of votes commenced at 8 AM across 19 centers in 11 districts. Early trends indicate significant leads for the BJP, with several key AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Atishi, and senior leader Manish Sisodia, trailing in their respective constituencies.
Electoral Stakes and Party Standings
The election outcome will determine whether the AAP secures a fourth consecutive term or if the BJP stages a historic comeback. The Congress, which suffered consecutive defeats in previous elections, is aiming for a modest recovery.
As per the latest updates:
BJP: 46 seats
AAP: 23 seats
Congress: 1 seat
Security Measures and Key Counting Centers
To ensure a smooth counting process, security has been intensified across all counting centers. Shahdara, Central Delhi, East, South, and Southwest districts each have one counting center, while North, West, Northeast, and Southeast districts have two each. The New Delhi and Northwest districts house three counting stations apiece.
Exit polls had largely predicted a favorable outcome for the BJP, which has been out of power in Delhi since 1998. The Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 60.54% on polling day.
Political Developments and Key Contests
Tensions flared outside AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on the eve of the results, as a team from the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arrived seeking evidence regarding his allegations of BJP attempting to poach AAP candidates. Kejriwal was served a legal notice after declining to meet officials at his residence.
Meanwhile, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva has expressed confidence in his party’s performance, predicting a victory with nearly 50 seats. AAP, however, has dismissed the exit poll projections.
Key Candidate Updates:
Badarpur: BJP’s Narayan Dutt Sharma leads against AAP’s Ram Singh Netaji.
Adarsh Nagar: BJP’s Raj Kumar Bhatia leads over AAP’s Mukesh Kumar Goel.
Malviya Nagar: BJP’s Satish Upadhyay overtakes AAP’s Somnath Bharti.
New Delhi: BJP’s Parvesh Verma leads against AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal.
Model Town: AAP’s Akhilesh Pati Tripathi leads over BJP’s Ashok Goel.
Tughlakabad: AAP’s Sahi Ram ahead of BJP’s Rohtash Kumar.
Babarpur: AAP Minister Gopal Rai leads over BJP’s Anil Kumar Vashisht.
Seelampur: AAP’s Chaudhary Zubair Ahmad leads against BJP’s Anil Kumar Sharma.
As the counting process continues, the final results will determine whether AAP retains its hold over Delhi or if BJP makes a significant political comeback in the national capital.
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