Delhi MCD Election 2022 Zee News Exit Poll: Arvind Kejriwal's AAP set to SWEEP civic polls, likely to win 134-146 wards

NEW DELHI: The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) looks all set to sweep the keenly-contested Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections 2022, according to the Zee News exit polls. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is predicted to win between 134-146 seats of the 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), while the incumbent BJP is expected to win between 82-94 wards. Congress, which is on brink of extinction,  is expected to win 8-14 wards and Others 14-19 wards. 

Zee News exit polls, which predicted a landslide victory for Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party in the Delhi MCD election 2022, also predicted a massive increase in vote share for AAP. Arvind Kejriwal-led party to grab 46 percent. In terms of vote share, AAP is expected to get 46 per cent, BJP 39 per cent, Congress 11 per cent and others 04 per cent.

One of the major findings of the Zee News Exit poll suggests that Kejriwal's AAP has become a top choice for first-time voters in the 18-25 age category. In the same category, nearly 50% voters prefer AAP; BJP is favoured by 40%, Congress 8% and Others 4%.

In the 26-35 age category also, AAP is the top choice of nearly 46% voters, BJP 35%, Congress 15, and Others 4% In the 50+ age category, AAP leads the pack again with 46% of voters, BJP 45%, Congress 10%.   

Exit poll predictions by other news channels also showed AAP getting between 149-171 wards.

According to Zee News exit polls, nearly 62% of respondents said there was a marked improvement in the quality of education being provided in govt-run schools in Delhi under the AAP government. The Delhi government's reforms in the education sector seem to have clicked well with the local voters in the MCD polls, 

Garbage Collection, Landfills, Liquor Scam Top Issues 

Garbage collection, landfills, poor waste management, Delhi liquor scam emerged as one of the biggest issues in the fight between the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the BJP, which has been controlling municipal bodies for 15 years.

There were 1,349 candidates in the fray and over 1.45 crore electors were eligible to exercise their franchise. Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls 2022 were held on Sunday for 250 municipal wards of the national capital. According to the data provided by the election commission, around 50 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the Delhi MCD polls 2020.

The AAP's performance - if the exit poll predictions come true when the final results are announced - would be a big setback for the BJP, which has been controlling the MCD for the past 15 years. During the MCD poll campaign, Kejriwal's big promise that the AAP would root out the rampant corruption in the BJP-controlled MCD - seems to have worked in the favour of Delhi's ruling party. If the exit polls predictions come true, it would mean Kejriwal's party has shown a stellar performance despite the BJP sending its top leaders to Delhi for the MCD election campaign.

The BJP's strategy of connecting the Delhi local election with national issues and bringing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "development for all" message to the doorsteps of Delhi residents has failed to stop the AAP's rise. With the AAP controlling both the Delhi government and the municipal body, Kejriwal's party is likely to have a smooth run in carrying out basic urban projects.

It may be recalled that the MCD was earlier divided into three zones - north, south and east. The three were merged into a single entity before the election.

Moderate -50% - Voting in MCD Polls 

Around 50% voting was recorded on December 4 in the election to the 250 municipal wards in Delhi, with main rivals BJP and AAP claiming victory in the high-stakes contest. No major glitches in electronic voting machines were reported and the voting passed off peacefully with high security observed at the 3,360 critical booths in 493 locations where more than 25,000 police personnel, nearly 13,000 home guards and 100 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed, officials said.

Several people in North-East Delhi and some other areas complained that their names were missing from the voters' lists. Anil Kumar, the Delhi Congress president, was among the people who could not vote. The BJP said it has filed a complaint with the State election commission over the missing names.

The polls are crucial for the AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal as they seek expansion of the party ahead of the 2024 General Elections in the country. A victory in the MCD polls will not only cement AAP's place in Delhi but will fuel its aspiration to emerge as a serious contender to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the national scene.

Trifurcation & Reunification of MCD 

The erstwhile MCD, established in 1958, was trifurcated in 2012 during Sheila Dikshit's tenure as Chief Minister. Between 2012 and 2022, Delhi had 272 wards and three corporations —North Delhi, South Delhi and East Delhi municipal corporations. These three civic bodies were reunified into the Municipal Corporation of Delhi which came into existence on May 22. 

The BJP which has been ruling the civic bodies since 2007 had won 181 of the total 270 municipal wards in the 2017 civic body polls, trouncing the AAP and the Congress. The AAP won 48 wards and the Congress 30. Both the AAP and the BJP have fielded 250 candidates, while the Congress has 247 in the fray. The number of independents is 382. Among other political parties, the BSP contested the poll on 132 wards, the NCP on 26, the Janata Dal (United) on 22, and the AIMIM on 15.

The final results of the MCD polls will be announced on December 7.