BJP benefited from Modi's popularity in polls: Rajnath Singh

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the party has got the full benefit of prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's popularity in this election, while asserting that the saffron outfit will form the government in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

"Any person would say that apart from the popularity of the party's chief ministerial candidates, we have also got the full benefit of our prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in this election. We will form government in all four states," he told media here today.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley also congratulated party workers and state leaders for their efforts, and said there is an anti-Congress wave in the country.

"This is an unprecedented victory as far as the BJP is concerned. For the third time running, we have formed a government in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. There was no anti-incumbency against our governments," he said.

"The most spectacular victory is that of Rajasthan. We have won more than 80 percent of the seats in Rajasthan. In Delhi, we have emerged as the largest party almost with a hand-shaking distance from a clear majority," he added.

Jaitley praised the Aam Aadmi Party for doing well on their political debut.

"It was a new party, as a new party it has done reasonably well. It did raise certain kinds of issues. Some were populist, some added to the cynicism, and people wanted to experiment with a new party. But, how long does this continue, is yet to be seen," he added.

Latest trends in Delhi shows that newcomer AAP is leading in 27 seats, while the BJP is ahead in 32 seats and the Congress in 8 seats. In Rajasthan, the BJP is ahead in 159 seats, while Congress is leading in 22 seats. In Madhya Pradesh, BJP is ahead in 159 seats, while the Congress leading in 63 seats. In Chhattisgarh, BJP is ahead in 44 seats while the Congress is leading in 43 seats. The results in these four states have begun to trickle in.

The counting of votes in four states began here this morning amidst tight security and elaborate arrangements made by the Election Commission.

The votes will decide the fate of contesting candidates in Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh where assembly elections were held between November 11 and December 4.

Three time Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has forwarded her resignation to the Lt. Governor of Delhi Najeeb Jung, finally accepting that her Congress Party has lost the assembly polls in the national capital.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continues to be in the lead in the polls and is more or less certain of returning to power in Delhi after 15 years.

However, the BJP may have to share the responsibility of governance of the Delhi with the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).