Close fight between BJP, AAP; Arvind Kejriwal edges Kiran Bedi as Delhi's preferred CM: Zee-Taleem Survey

New Delhi: The fight for the capital is now closer than any one would have guessed. Contrary to the earlier expectations, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has once again gained ground over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming Delhi Assembly Elections.

As per the latest survey conducted by Zee Media in association with Taleem Research Foundation, the BJP will trump the AAP by a difference of a few seats. While the survey predicts that the BJP will bag anywhere between 32 to 36 seats, the AAP is likely to win between 30 to 34. The also-rans, the Congress, will slump further from its present tally of 8 and end up with 3 to 5 seats.

The contest is keener as far as the race for the chief minister's post is concerned. AAP's Arvind Kejriwal was the preferred choice of 42.3% of the respondents, while BJP's Kiran Bedi comes close second with 40.3% if the trends are anything to go by. Congress' Ajay Maken was preferred by 17.4% respondents.

The vote percentage result thrown by the Zee-Taleem Survey further suggests that Delhi could be headed for another hung Assembly. Of all those surveyed, 40.7% responded that they would vote for the BJP, while 40.2% responded in favour of the AAP and Congress was the preferred choice of 19.1% voters.

At present, in the 70-member Delhi House, the BJP and its ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has 29 MLAs - down from 32 after its legislators Harsh Vardhan, Ramesh Bidhuri and Pravesh Verma were elected to the Lok Sabha.

AAP has 27 members, while the Congress has eight.  The findings of the survey conducted today shows BJP getting 32 – 36 seats, and AAP giving tough fight to BJP to get 30 – 34 seats. Congress is now forecast to win 3 – 5 seats.

The Assembly elections in Delhi is due on February 7, and the counting of votes will be done on February 10.