Delhi polls: 67% turnout. exit polls show BJP as single largest party

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New Delhi, Dec 4, 2013: The most watched election this year is turning out to be the battle for Delhi. A record voter turnout on Wednesday and exit polls are predicting a three-way thriller. Around 67 per cent of the electorate voted on Wednesday in the fiercely fought Delhi assembly polls billed as a litmus test for ruling Congress ahead of upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

"The polling has so far been peaceful and there were no reports of any untoward incident," Election Commission officials said.

While CNN-IBN’s post-poll survey results will be released on Friday, many other polls have predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will emerge as the single largest party even as the Aam Aadmi Party is seen making an impressive debut.

According to the C-voter exit poll, the ruling Congress is projected to get 20 seats. The BJP will emerge as the single largest party with 31 seats, the Aam Admi Party is expected to win 15 seats.

 

AC Nielsen’s exit poll predicts the Congress will win 16 and the AAP will win 15 seats. The BJP is projected to form the government with 37 seats.

According to the India Today-ORG poll, the BJP will form the next government with a thumping majority of 41 seats. The Congress is likely to get 20 and the AAP is predicted to fare badly with just 6 seats.

A total of 809 candidates are competing over 70 seats, for the support of nearly 1.2 crore voters. And for once, it was a rare sight on Wednesday with some VIPs waiting in the same queues as the common people exercised their rights, unlike others who lost their patience.

All the three parties are confident of winning these elections. "AAP is not a factor. I am not nervous, I’m keeping my fingers crossed," said Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

"This election is of the people and they have to make a decision," said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. "We are going to have a hands down victory, an absolutely unprecedented quality of victory," said BJP CM candidate Harsh Vardhan.

Amid the smiles and optimism were several voter woes form across the city. Many complained they could not vote as their names were not on the voters’ list.

This wasn’t all. More trouble brewed as some members of the Aam Aadmi Party alleged that they were manhandled.

But for the first time in two decades, Delhi is seeing a three pronged battle. The debutante, AAP, is desperately seeking a higher voter turnout, hoping that Kejriwal will sway a significant voter chunk towards his party. But whether Sheila Dikshit will manage to win a record fourth term or Delhiites will vote for change is something that will be known on December 8.