The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has rejected the exit poll results for the Delhi Assembly election on Wednesday, saying the pollsters have “historically” underestimated its performance, while the BJP termed the predictions an assertion of people's urge for change.
As voting for the 70-member Delhi Assembly concluded at 6 pm on Wednesday, most exit polls predicted an edge to the BJP over the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
AAP's national spokesperson Reena Gupta said that exit polls have historically underestimated the Arvind Kejriwal-led party but in actual results, the party gains several times more than these projections.
“This is the 4th election of Delhi in which I have participated, and you can see the other polls whether it is 2013, 2015, exit polls always show AAP getting fewer seats and when the actual results come, AAP would get bumper seats...Arvind Kejriwal is going to get historic seats...for 4th time,” Gupta said.
She claimed that the people of Delhi have voted for the AAP in large numbers and asserted that the party is going to register a “historic” victory, with Kejriwal becoming the chief minister for a fourth time.
AAP candidate from Greater Kailash Vidhan Sabha Saurabh Bharadwaj says, "it is being shown that we will be getting fewer seats. I feel that exit polls have always shown that AAP would be getting fewer votes."
"AAP's vote share always comes more than what is shown in the exit polls", he added.
The poll results are scheduled to be declared on Saturday.
Meanwhile, exit polls indicate a likely victory for the BJP, with some showing a close contest between the BJP and AAP. Congress is predicted to make minimal gains, with most surveys projecting no seats or one at best.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the party respects the exit poll predictions. “I believe the people of Delhi made up their minds long ago that they wanted change,” he added.
"Delhiites want a corruption-free government. BJP workers campaigned with great dedication in the run-up to the election to fight against corruption in the city", Sachdeva said.
He exuded confidence that the AAP is on its way out of power and that the saffron party is going to form its government in Delhi after a gap of more than 25 years.
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