BJP to scrape through in Delhi, Kejriwal choice for CM: Survey

A post-poll survey by CNN-IBN and The Week says the BJP may scrape through to a majority in the Delhi assembly elections, winning between 32 and 42 seats, while the Aam Admi Party (AAP) would make a "stunning debut".

The CNN-IBN-The Week study also projects massive losses for the ruling Congress in Delhi and says AAP's Arvind Kejriwal is the most preferred choice for chief minister.

The survey says the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to secure 33 percent vote share in Delhi, while AAP is expected to secure 27 percent vote share and the Congress would finish third with only 23 percent vote share.

It said that AAP may get between 13 and 21 seats in the 70-member assembly and the Congress may get between nine and 17 seats.

According to its study, released to the media, 70 percent of respondents say that the Sheila Dikshit government does not deserve another chance at governing Delhi, while only 23 percent of those surveyed want the Dikshit government to get another chance.

The CNN IBN-The Week post-poll survey suggests that the satisfaction levels with the Dikshit government has dropped by 26 percent from the 2008 mark of 66 percent.

Only 40 percent respondents say they are satisfied with the Delhi government's performance in the past five years while 54 percent said they were dissatisfied.

The Delhi chief minister's personal popularity has also touched its lowest since 2003, the survey said. She got only 15 percent approval.

Dikshit's popularity ratings in 2008 stood at 34 percent and climbed to 41 percent in 2009, the survey said.

Kejriwal emerges as most preferred choice for chief minister of Delhi at 27 percent, followed by BJP's Harsh Vardhan at 22 percent approval. Dikshit is third at only 15 percent.

CNN IBN-The Week post-poll projects Dikhshit may lose New Delhi seat to Kejriwal. It says 38 percent respondents in New Delhi constituency say they want Kejriwal as chief minister, while only 13 percent back her.

The post-poll projections suggest Dikshit may be paying a price of the "high unpopularity of the central government" as 63 percent Delhi respondents say they are dissatisfied with the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.

Among the reasons given by those who voted for thed BJP was they are attached to the party and the price rise, while those who voted for AAP said they wanted change. Congress voters voted for it due to family loyalty.

Kejriwal was also the most preferred choice of young voters, while Harsh Vardhan was the preferred choice of Brahmins, and Muslims voted for Dikshit.