MCD elections: AAP races ahead of BJP; Congress a distant third

A transgender candidate won from Sultanpuri

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ ITDC NEWS The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is all set to end BJP's 15-year reign of the Delhi civic body as it managed to race ahead of the ruling party in the tightly-contested elections.

Four hours into the counting, AAP has crossed the magic figure of 126 in the MCD polls, but the lead over the BJP was just marginal. By 11.30 am, the AAP won 56 seats and was ahead in 77, totalling up to 133. The BJP, on the other hand, has won 46 and was leading in 58, adding up to 104, reported PTI.

Other significant wins included independent candidate Shakeela Begum winning from Seelampur and transgender candidate Bobi, who won from Sultanpuri. Bobi is the only transgender candidate in the MCD polls.

The contest was a tight one after initial trends showed a neck-and-neck race with BJP leading at some points. But, soon the pendulum swung in the AAP's favour soon after.

In 2017, the BJP had clinched 181 of the then 270 municipal wards while AAP had won only 48, and the Congress finished third with 30.

AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj exuded confidence his party will emerge victorious. "We will win more than 180 seats. We have decked up our office... The BJP did not cite any achievement of their 15-year tenure in the MCD during the campaigning," he told the media at the party office.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal will address people after the results. The high-stakes election to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was held on December 4, sealing the electoral fate of 1,349 candidates in voting machines.