Polling for the crucial MCD election in Delhi, seen as a barometer of the power struggle between the incumbent BJP and AAP, concluded on Sunday. The counting for the election will begin at 8 am on Wednesday. The initial hours of polling on Sunday, which began at 8 am, witnessed a dismal turnout. The situation improved as people trooped out later in the day as the intense heat waned. The final voter turnout was recorded at around 53.58 percent. Early exit polls revealed that the saffron party will clinch over 200 of the 272 wards in MCD. An exit poll conducted by ABP News predicted that BJP will get 218 seats out of 272 seats. Aam Aadmi Party, which runs the state government in Delhi, was predicted to get 24 seats, while the Congress party was pegged to get 22 seats, said the
exit poll survey. [caption id=“attachment_1789443” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Agencies[/caption] Meanwhile, the India Today-Axis poll gave the BJP a lead of between
202 and 220 seats. It said BJP would clinch between 78 to 84 seats in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, while 79-85 in the south, and 45-51 in the east. It also put AAP and Congress neck and neck for second place, with the former just about inching ahead with 23-35 seats as against 19-31 for the latter. BJP Delhi president Manoj Tiwari expressed satisfaction with the results and attributed it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “Exit poll results are according to our expectations,” BJP president Manoj Tiwari told India Today. “Modi has won the hearts of people from sections of society. The BJP has taken all its decisions for the welfare of India while the AAP has looted citizens of Delhi.” Congress leaders avoided drawing conclusions based on these surveys, instead advising patience till 26 April, when votes will be counted. “These (polls) violate moral code of conduct. The results will come on 26 April. Let us wait till then,” Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed said. The AAP, that enjoyed an unprecedented mandate in 2015 Assembly elections winning 67 out of 70 constituencies in Delhi, seemed shocked by the exit polls and claimed that the MCD poll results could be “rigged”. “If this is what the exit polls say, it is clear that the EVMs have been tampered with and these fake exit polls are being done to prepare a ground for the rigged results,” AAP Delhi convener Dilip Pandey claimed. The party citing an internal survey had claimed to win 218 wards, during campaigning for the MCD polls. Polling was held in 270 wards of the three municipal corporations. The election to two wards was postponed due to death of candidates. 1,32,10,206 voters were entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for 270 wards falling under the three corporations - NDMC (103), SDMC (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (63).
Delhi MCD Election 2017 Results LIVE: With BJP set for a win, Yogendra Yadav urges AAP to be gracious in defeat
Counting for the crucial MCD election will begin 8 am on Wednesday & will unveil who emerged victorious from the three-way battle between AAP, BJP, Congress
 "Delhi MCD Election 2017 Results LIVE: With BJP set for a win, Yogendra Yadav urges AAP to be gracious in defeat")
‘EVM allegations reflect Kejriwal’s mental insolvency’
Mahesh Giri, BJP MP, said that Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) tampering is a manifestation of his mental insolvency.
Celebrations break out at various counting centres in the city. Trends show BJP will secure a landslide victory in the MCD polls, while AAP and Congress fight neck and neck for second place.
Poster put up outside BJP HQ dedicating MCD win to CRPF jawans who lost their lives in #sukmaattack #DelhiMCDElections2017 pic.twitter.com/vpTePAclNM
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2017
Advantage AAP; Disadvantage AAP
Though the AAP might have gained credence for delivering in Delhi, with two factors working strongly in its favour – free water subsidised electricity – the same is not showing in terms of its MCD performance.
The people of Delhi seem generally happy with these deliverables as they have benefited Delhi voters a lot.
However, a large section of voters in Delhi, including AAP insiders, feel that Delhi CM and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s dictatorial and unilateral decisions and adverse comments against PM Narendra Modi have gone against the party. They believe that it is not the party’s performance but rather Kejriwal who is behind the AAP’s demise.
AAP must be a gracious loser: Yogendra Yadav
Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav told the media that his former party, AAP, must be a gracious loser.
“AAP must show grace and accept defeat,” he said, adding that there was “no indication that EVMs were tampered with in Delhi.” Yadav continued, “AAP needs to introspect, it is not right to blame others.”
AAP supporters celebrate outside Shriram Colony at Yamuna Vihar
If EVM decides democracy, it’s a dangerous trend: Gopal Rai
AAP minister Gopal Rai has dismissed notions that the Modi wave that has been sweeping state after state (with a few exceptions) is responsible for the saffron party’s performance in the civic election. “AAP winning or losing is a small thing. But if EVM decides democracy, then it is a dangerous trend… This is not the Modi wave, this is an EVM wave.”
The minister added, “For 10 years, BJP has been ruling the MCD. The way they have won today, it’s only due to the EVM wave.”
Dejected Congress supporters outside ward 64E, Shriram Colony at Yamuna Vihar. All trends show that BJP is set to secure a landslide victory in the MCD election.
Media contingent waits outside CM Kejriwal's residence as CM holds meeting with deputy CM Sisodia #DelhiMCDElections2017 pic.twitter.com/yoa41Fcl7i
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2017
AAP volunteers remain optimistic
In spite of the early trends of the MCD election say, the volunteers of AAP remain optimistic that their party would do well in the MCD election.
“Even in the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections, trends of the results and the media didn’t predict the correct numbers. But, we proved everyone wrong. So, let us wait till the final result is out,” said Sunil Kumar, an AAP volunteer outside the party office .
BJP leading in all 3 civic bodies, Aam Aadmi Party now at second spot in Delhi
The BJP was leading in all the three civic bodies, while Delhi’s ruling AAP was at second spot, and the Congress was trailing at third spot, according to counting trends after an hour, Delhi State Election Commission officials said on Wednesday.
The BJP was leading in 110 wards, the AAP in 28 and the Congress in 23 wards.
Read the full article hereCivic polls a beginning for Swaraj India, says Yogendra Yadav
The municipal elections in Delhi were “foundational elections” for the Swaraj India Party and leaders have “zero expectations” of winning any seat, party chief Yogendra Yadav said on Wednesday.
“We have zero expectations. But anything we get above that is a plus for us,” Yadav told NDTV on Wednesday as counting of votes for Delhi’s civic polls began.
Read the full article herePolice presence beefed up ahead of results announcement
In Yamuna Vihar, the presence of cops has been increased ahead of the impending announcement of winners.
Congress supporters also ebullient
In Zakir Nagar (Ward No 100S), Congress party workers have begun to celebrate their candidate’s victory.
AAP supporters undeterred
In Yamuna Vihar, optimistic AAP supporters begin celebrating. Perhaps they haven’t been checking the numbers.
#DelhiMCDElections2017 First results: BJP wins from Janakpuri West and Janakpuri East
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2017
Celebrations are all set to commence in the BJP camp
In Ward 64E (Shri Ram Colony), they’ve already begun
And here are the official figures so far
State EC official trends: BJP-109, AAP-28, Congress-22, Independent-1 #DelhiMcdElection2017 pic.twitter.com/4hAX8GEJT7
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2017
This just in
Times Now and CNN-News18 have called the MCD election in the BJP’s favour.
For a different viewpoint…
Meanwhile in Paharganj…
With the BJP candidate well ahead of his competition, this counting centre appears to be deserted.
BJP press conference expected at 2 pm
A party source has revealed that the Bharatiya Janata Party will hold a press conference at 2 pm at its state office.
Delhi back to the old equation
The trend does not augur well for the Aam Aadmi Party. If the MCD polls are a referendum on the party’s performance in over the last close to three years in power, then it is clear that it has lost public goodwill. The BJP is leading others by a mile, as predicted by exit polls. Media reports say the Congress has pushed the AAP to the third position. If the trend holds then it is back to the old days in Delhi’s civic body politics. The disruptor has been disrupted. The AAP days could get over here soon. Introspection is in order for Arvind Kejriwal.
Trends look in tune with what I saw during campaigning.Ppl have faith in policies of BJP&leadership of PM:Dr Harsh Vardhan #MCDelections2017 pic.twitter.com/x9oFbFqcpF
— ANI (@ANI) April 26, 2017
Cue the celebration
Mukesh and Niwas from Katputli colony await the results, as they stand by for the celebrations that will follow. They are seen outside counting centres each election, knowing that someone is going to celebrate no matter what.
BJP leads in 160 wards, Delhi party chief Manoj Tiwari confident about win
BJP’s Delhi chief Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday said he was sure his party would win the civic polls. “I am sure we will win. I have no doubt about it,” Tiwari told the media, as counting of votes began. He said the BJP would make Delhi a “clean city” and free it from all sorts of diseases after the party “wins” the municipal elections.
Read the full story hereBJP likely to retain the MCD
The speed at which BJP candidates are picking up leads across the National Capital has Congress and AAP supporters down in the dumps. And it looks more than likely that this will be another victorious chapter for the BJP.
Slightly dejected supporters of AAP, Swaraj India and Congress stand around as the BJP candidate surges ahead
BJP storms ahead according to nearly all TV channels
While Times Now and India Today have BJP ahead in a monstrous 185 seats (among 270), other channels are being more conservative — CNN-News18 puts the figure at 82, while NDTV pegs the BJP’s leads at 92.
First trends begin rolling in
According to Times Now, BJP leads in nine seats, Congress and AAP in one apiece.
NDTV gives BJP six leads, Congress three and AAP the solitary lead.
India Today has the BJP ahead in 21 seats with AAP ahead in five and Congress in four.
CNN-News18 has BJP ahead in three seats, Congress in five and AAP in two.
Ritu Singh Sehrawat, an independent candidate from Vasant Vihar, was earlier with the BJP but had to leave as she claimed that the party did not want to field any educated leaders from her area. She wanted to challenge them by contesting independently. Waiting outside the NP Girls Model School counting centre, she hopes to win.
What makes the MCD results so important?
Why would a mere civic body poll be so important for national parties? Well, it’s not ‘mere’ if one considers what is at stake. It’s prestige. Delhi was the first state to halt the Narendra Modi victory juggernaut post the 2014 General Election. The BJP has to prove that it was a minor bleep, not a definitive statement of its strength in the capital state.
The AAP has to prove that its victory was no fluke. If it wins or even does well, it will remain a strong counter-force to the BJP in Delhi. For the Congress, the question, of course, is revival. A decent performance will be a much-needed booster dose for it. Besides all that, a victory in Delhi has a certain bang value. It’s the power hub of the country.
BJP yielding not an inch; credit goes to Amit Shah
At least 232 seats out of 272 – that’s the BJP’s expectation for the MCD polls. Given the fact that they have been on an electoral purple patch for long, the target cannot be said to be highly optimistic.
Moreover, sweeps have become the trend in Indian elections. So, even 250 is achievable. Whatever be the result, you have to give it to the party. It yields not an inch, it takes no election lightly.
When did you last see high-profile national leaders campaigning for a civic body election? The credit must go to party president Amit Shah. He hates losing. It can only mean good for the party.
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