New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday appeared heading for a victory in the elections to all the three newly-formed municipal corporations of Delhi.
Of the 80 results declared by State Election Commission so far, the BJP has bagged a total of 49 of 272 wards in all the three corporations while the Congress has won 19 seats.
Eight Independents have also won, the Bahujan Samaj Party 2 besides one each by the Janata Dal (United) and the Indian National Lok Dal.
As per the trends available, the BJP is leading in 130 wards out of the total 272 wards while Congress is ahead in 80 seats. Others, including the BSP, are ahead in 54 seats.
In the South Delhi Corporation, the BJP has won or is leading in as many as 43 out of the 104 wards while the Congress was ahead in 32 seats. Interestingly, others are leading in 20 seats.
The East Delhi Corporation is witnessing a close fight with the BJP winning or leading in 28 seats while the Congress is ahead in 23 seats.
In the North Delhi Corporation, which has 104 seats, the BJP is ahead in 59 seats while the Congress is ahead in 25 seats. Others are leading in 12 wards.
The Congress sought to downplay the results with party spokesperson Rashid Alvi saying that MCD polls should be seen only as civic polls. BJP’s M. Venkaiah Naidu said BJP’s good governance in the MCD and Congress’ corruption resulted in the good show of his party.
The counting is taking place in 33 centres across the city. Polling was held on Sunday in which 55 per cent of the 1.15 crore voters exercised their franchise.
The first result to be declared was that of Shahdara (SC) in East Corporation where the BJP’s Balbir Singh defeated the Congress’ Jagdish by a margin of 1,238 votes. Mr. Singh polled 6,809 votes while his nearest rival got 5,571 votes.
The BJP’s Subhash Arya, the Leader of undivided MCD House, trumped his rival from Congress Manmohan Singh Kochar.
Delhi BJP chief Vijender Gupta’s wife Shobha has won in Rohini Central defeating her Congress rival Dr. Monica Puri.
MCD Leader of Opposition Jai Kishan Sharma (Congress) lost his electoral battle from Najafgarh.