With the Aam Aadmi Party leading in the exit polls, and the Bharatiya Janata Party downplaying projections, the residents Delhi are holding their breath to find out who will be their next chief minister.
Delhi broke its 2013 record ( 65.6%) with a 67% voter turnout for polling day on Saturday. Over 13 million were registered to vote in the Delhi polls. Counting day is on Feb. 10,
The four main exit poll surveys predict a comfortable majority for the AAP, first formed in 2012 after a popular anti-corruption movement led by Kejriwal and activist Anna Hazare. If the exit polls prove right, it will take some sheen off BJP's excellent run in recent elections, on the back on Narendra Modi's popularity and party president Amit Shah's organisational abilities. It will also prove that Kiran Bedi, who was chosen by BJP as its chief ministerial candidate just weeks ahead of the polls, was no match for Kejriwal.
Following the exit poll results, Kejriwal sent out a series of tweets to thank AAP volunteers who mobilised support for the party, and urged them to relax for two days.
Volunteers. U did an amazing job. Relax for 2 days. Spend wid ur family. Sleep. Watch movies. Meditate. Chill. God bless u.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 8, 2015
हमने अपना काम इमानदारी और निस्वार्थ भाव से किया। अब फल भगवान के हाथ में है।
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 7, 2015
My sincere thnks n congratulations to all selfless volunteers of AAP, who worked round the clock for their country. AAP is bcoz of u (1/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 7, 2015
My gratitud 2 Delhiites for their support. U r so amazing.U rejcted politics of caste n religion.Hope final results r as per exit polls(2/2)
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 7, 2015
On Saturday night, Bedi said that she would take "full responsibility for the results of Delhi elections."
The 2013 polls did not give any party a clear majority. That year, the BJP got 32 seats, the AAP 28 seats and the Congress, 8 seats.
Modi and Shah also held meetings with Delhi BJP leaders after exit polls. So far, they are downplaying results of the exit polls.
"The result will have to come on the 10th. We are hopeful that the result will go in our favour and we will wait for it," BJP leader and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala Sitharaman said on Sunday after her meeting with Bedi on Sunday.
"Even during the Lok Sabha polls, this kind of a question was asked of us. We brought in the manifesto when we were ready for it. These are things which a political party does based on its own working time, schedule, the calendar....and so many other facts that have to be taken into consideration,” she said.