BJP set to storm back to power in Delhi after 27 years: Exit polls

New Delhi: A poll of seven exit polls predicted 42-49 seats for the BJP in the Assembly election to end its 27-year jinx, signalling an end of Arvind Kejriwal's winning streak in Delhi after three back-to-back victories. The final results will be declared on February 8. 

The poll of election experts gave 20-28 seats to the Arvind Kejriwal-led ruling party, marking the end of the winning streak for the outfit which emerged victorious in three straight elections since 2013. A defeat for the AAP might also raise questions over the future of the political party which emerged from an anti-corruption movement in 2011.

The majority mark in the 70-member Assembly is 36. In 2020, the AAP won 62 out of 70 seats with a vote share of 53.57 per cent. The BJP won eight seats with a 38.51 per cent vote share. The Congress got 4.26 per cent of votes and others polled 3.66 per cent votes. In 2015, the AAP won 67 seats, getting 54.6 per cent vote share.

Pollsters claimed that the race to distribute freebies was won by the BJP in this election and the mega increase in income tax exemption relief from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 12 lakh tilted the balance in favour of the party which was led from the front by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

An exit poll by People's Pulse projected a sweep by the BJP with 51-60 votes while an exit poll by Matrize projected a tough fight with 35-40 seats for the BJP and 32-37 seats for the AAP. However, Mind Brink predicted 44-49 seats for the AAP giving 15-21 to the BJP and one seat to the Congress.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar dismissed the exit polls and predicted 58 seats for the AAP and around 12 seats for the BJP. She also alleged poll code violations and misuse of official machinery, including the Delhi Police and the Election Commission.

BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri, who challenged Chief Minister Atishi in Kalkaji, expressed confidence that the BJP will cross the 50-seat mark when the results are declared. "The BJP is going to comfortably form the government," he said. (IANS)

Also Read: 57.70 percent voter turnout recorded in Delhi Assembly polls

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