New Delhi: The BJP is headed for landslide victories in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and may just scrape through to a majority in Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party has ensured, in a stunning debut, that the ruling Congress stands decimated. (Track live updates)
In Chhattisgarh, the ruling BJP and the Congress are neck and neck – leading in 45 of the 90 seats each – and Chief Minister Raman Singh’s third straight term hangs in balance.
In sharp contrast his neighbour in MP and party colleague Shivraj Singh Chouhan hasn’t had to worry all morning. He is set to get his third term and the only question is how large his victory will be. The BJP is currently leading in 150 of the 230 seats in the state. The Congress was a non-starter. (Pics: BJP optimistic, AAP cheerful, Congress prays)
The BJP’s Vasundhara Raje has posted the most resounding victory of the day in Rajasthan. She seems headed for a two-thirds majority if all current trends convert to leads, shrugging off political setbacks of the last few years to reclaim the post of Chief Minister, evicting the Congress’ Ashok Gehlot.
For the ruling Congress, which seems set to lose Rajasthan and Delhi and has failed to make a dent in MP, it is a rude wake-up call just months before national elections due in May. These assembly elections are largely being seen as the semi-finals ahead of 2014 and also a test of the popularity of Narendra Modi, who campaigned extensively as the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate.
Central minister Shashi Tharoor said, “I am not prepared to extrapolate from today’s results for Lok Sabha elections” But big winner Ms Raje said, “Modi is a very big factor. People have seen what he has done in Gujarat.”
In Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party is the big story. It is leading in 21 seats and will be main opposition if the BJP converts all 36 seats it is leading in right now. Delhi has 70 assembly seats.
10.26 am: BJP is single largest party, but don’t have majority As counting goes on, the BJP looks like it is losing some of its early momentum to AAP. BJP leads have dropped to 30 seats, while AAP is leading in 25. The Congress has upped its tally to leads in 14 seats. At the AAP headquarters, brooms are being waved in the air in celebration.
10.15 am: Leads for all 70 seats out, BJP just shy of magic number
The leads are now out for all 70 seats in New Delhi and the BJP looks like it is just shy of the magic number – 36. They are leading in 32 seats, while AAP is a clear second in 24 seats. Congress is leading in 13 seats while the BSP is leading in 1.
The BJP will now be hoping that once results get a little clearer, that they will see more seats coming to them.
BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman has meanwhile gone out of her way to reassure the Aam Aadmi Party that there is no party initiative to approach AAP and lure MPs on to their side. This comes even as AAP leader Kejriwal alleged that some of his party MPs had already been approached by the BJP.
While Sitharaman’s assertions are admirable, no one can rule out some strong horse trading. Expect a lot of allegations and counter allegations in the next few hours and days.
10:03 am: According to reports, Arvind Kejriwal is now leading in the New Delhi seat where he was contesting against CM Sheila Dikshit.
9:45 am: The BJP is close to victory and is leading in 30 seats while AAP follows and is leading in 23 seats.
ALSO SEE AAP may spring a surprise in Delhi; BJP, Cong await Assembly results
9:44 am: While the BJP leads in Delhi, Delhi Health Minister AK Walia is leading in Laxmi Nagar constituency.
Delhi election results live: BJP nears half-way mark, hung assembly likely
9:38 am: AAP leader Shazia Ilmi, who is trailing in RK Puram says, “This is not about the BJP or Congress. It is about the people’s issues. We have gone to people with the real issues of the people.”
9:27 am: The BJP has again moved ahead and is now leading in 25 seats, while AAP is a close second and is leading in 18 seats.
9:20 am: Delhi seems to be headed for a hung assembly with the AAP giving a close fight to BJP. But BJP leader Siddharth Nath Singh says they would rather go for President’s rule in Delhi for 6 months in that case and have elections again.
9:11 am: It’s a very close fight between the AAP and the BJP in Delhi. While BJP is leading in 15 seats, AAP is leading in 14. The Congress is far behind. Delhi seems to be headed for a hung assembly.
9:04 am: Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit is leading in the New Delhi seat where Arvind Kejriwal was contesting against her. BJP continues to lead in Delhi while AAP is now second.
8:58 am: The Congress has taken a slight lead over AAP for the second position, but BJP still remains a clear leader, leading in 10 seats.
8:57 am: BJP CM candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan says, “I have always believed that AAP and Congress were contesting amongst each other for the second position.”
8:54 am: The BJP is leading in six seats, while AAP is a close second, leading in 4 seats. Other parties are leading in 5 seats while Congress is far behind, leading only in 2 seats.
8:48 am: The BJP is leading in 4 seats and AAP in 3 seats. Congress is leading in one seat.
8:46 am: While AAP is leading in three seats, BJP is leading in one.
8:45 am: Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP has now taken lead in two seats in Delhi.
8:35 am: The AAP has taken the lead in one seat (Narela) in Delhi.
8:30 am: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal says his party is ready for any result whatsoever. He reiterates he won’t support any party even as BJP has approached some of his party members with money and posts.
8:15 am: As post-poll surveys predict a Congress debacle, the party workers are holding a prayer outside the Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit’s residence.
8:04 am: BJP’s Chief Ministerial candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan says he is confident of a clear victory for his party. “We will get a good win in Delhi. I have always said that BJP will get clear majority to form the government in Delhi,” he said.
8:00 am: The counting of votes for the crucial Delhi Assembly elections has begun. Delhi is seeing a three-way battle with the Aam Aadmi Party entering the fray. In fact, many exit polls say that Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP may spring a surprise with a spectacular debut.
The BJP, however, is likely to emerge either as the single largest party or as a clear winner according to post-poll surveys, dethroning the 15-year rule of the Congress in the city state.
A total of 810 candidates are in the fray. While BJP fielded candidates in 66 constituencies, Congress and AAP contested all the 70 seats. BSP, the third largest party in the last assembly election, fielded candidates in 69 seats, NCP in nine and Samajwadi Party in 27 seats. A total of 224 independents were also in the fray.
The entry of Kejriwal’s AAP has changed the dimension of the election and it will be interesting to see whether the newbie will just be a “spoiler” or win some seats as predicted by opinion polls, riding on its anti-corruption plank.
In the run up to the polling on December 4, a high-voltage campaign was witnessed whree contestants, incumbent Congress, opposition BJP and greenhorn Aam Aadmi Party slugged it out to woo 1.19 crore voters.
While Congress is seeking another term under Sheila Dikshit, BJP and AAP were led by their chief ministerial candidates Harsh Vardhan and Kejriwal.
The highest-ever voter turnout of 65.86 per cent was recorded as Delhiites came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the just-concluding election. The Delhi assembly election result is being seen as an indicator of the mood of the urban electorate ahead of the general election.
