New Delhi, Feb 10: The stage is set for the formation of a government in Delhi as Monday saw election officials preparing for Tuesday’s counting process amid claims by the AAP and the BJP of getting a clear majority.
“The counting of votes will start at 8 am and all the results should be out by 1 pm,” an election official said, indicating that early trends may emerge at about 11 am.
The exit polls have given the AAP a clear majority and enough reasons for the party workers to prepare for grand celebrations soon after the electronic voting machines are de-sealed for the counting process at 14 locations.
AAP leader and former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, tipped to ascend the coveted post again, preferred to stay away from the public glare on the eve of counting.
“He spent most of his time with his family at home in Kaushambi colony of Ghaziabad, where he held a brief meeting of AAP workers from his New Delhi constituency,” said an aide of the 46-year-old leader.
BJP chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi held a meeting with party workers for thanking them and distributed copies of an “illustrative story book” — “Making of the Top Cop” — based on her life.
“Our workers have worked hard and we are confident of winning the polls,” she said, contradicting the projections of most of the exit polls.
Bedi also appeared ready to gracefully accept defeat. “I have given my best....the outcome is not in my hand, but karma is,” said the 65-year-old former IPS officer who worked with Kejriwal in the anti-corruption movement of Anna Hazare.
She vowed to serve the people of Krishna Nagar constituency and make it clean and crime-free even if she loses– a highly unlikely possibility as the seat is a BJP stronghold.
Ajay Maken, the chief ministerial candidate of the Congress, answered to questions from the media at the All India Congress Committee office during the day. He did not try to hide the fact that the party was not looking for miracles on the counting day. He is likely to turn up early at his Sadar Bazar constituency counting centre on Pusa Road.
On Sunday, Maken reacted to the exit polls’ projection of a Congress wipeout by saying, “Whatever the outcome, I am responsible.” Congress leaders said the party could not be written off and questioned the exit polls which showed that its tally will fall from eight to zero.
The Delhi BJP and Congress offices bore a deserted look on Monday while the AAP office was abuzz with activities. Preparations were being made to show the live coverage of the counting process.
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