New Delhi:
Arvind Kejriwal was trailing in a direct battle against three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit but his Aam Aadmi Party made its presence felt in Delhi as leads poured in from the counting of votes for the December 4 election, seen as one of the mostly keenly watched contests in the capital.
The BJP established an early lead in about a dozen out of 70 assembly seats in the capital. The AAP was not far behind, with its candidates performing well in at least seven seats.
Mr Kejriwal, who fought the election with the promise of a clean, corruption-free government, ruled out helping either the Congress or the BJP form government in Delhi. "Both are corrupt," he said.
The AAP is tipped to make an extraordinary debut in these polls and Mr Kejriwal said the BJP had tried to approach his party colleagues. The BJP, predict exit polls, will be the single largest party but could fall short of a clear majority.
The party's chief ministerial candidate Dr Harsh Vardhan, however, said he expects "a good quality win of about 40 seats" which will ensure that he will form government without any help. The medical doctor, who waved to reporters from the balcony of his Delhi home early this morning, said he had not felt the need for special prayers.
The "exit poll of polls," an average of the exit polls conducted by different agencies, showed the BJP getting 34 seats, one shy of the halfway mark and the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party getting 17 each.
Delhi registered its highest-ever voter turnout of 65.86 per cent this time and polling went on till late night.
Sheila Dikshit's son Sandeep Dikshit drove up early to her home to be with her and results come in. But a deserted Congress office reflected the party's sense of foreboding.