The internal survey conducted by BJP's mother organisation RSS after the Delhi polls too predicts a defeat for the saffron party.

New Delhi: Contrary to the claims of the BJP that all exit polls will fall flat and the party will get a clear majority to form a government in the national capital, the internal survey conducted by mother organisation RSS after the 7 February polls too predicts a defeat for the saffron party.

As per the survey, out of the 70-seat Delhi assembly, the BJP is likely to get not more than 34 seats in the best case scenario. While the party will face defeat on 20 seats, it has a neck-and-neck fight with the Aam Aadmi Party in 16 constituencies, sources in the RSS told Firstpost.

The results of another survey conducted by the BJP are also not encouraging for the party. It predicts the party may get 30-33 seats, while the AAP is set to bag 32-34 seats. It is giving 2-4 seats to the Congress, BJP sources said. They added that the party has already conceded defeat and chalking out strategies to save faces of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah, who were at the forefront in the elections.

The RSS held three reasons responsible for the BJP not securing a majority: projecting former IPS officer Kiran Bedi as chief ministerial candidate; indulging in mudslinging and negative campaign against the AAP and its convenor Arvind Kejriwal; and lack of preparedness of the Delhi unit of the BJP.

“The BJP committed a blunder by declaring Bedi as its CM nominee. Bedi’s image as an administrator and her dictatorial style caused a huge loss to the party,” said an RSS insider. He further added that BJP’s consistent attack on the AAP and Kejriwal went against the saffron outfit. “The recent controversial advertisements in all newspapers caused a dent in the party’s image and gave a message to the electorates that the party is running short of issues,” he said.

Praising booth-level workers of the BJP, the RSS functionary said, “The Delhi unit of the BJP was not fully prepared to contest this election, but its booth-level workers did a wonderful job and therefore, the party may get around 34 seats.”

The state unit of the BJP on Sunday called a review meeting at its headquarters to discuss the exit polls and the future line of action. The participants included Delhi BJP president Satish Upadhyay, party in charge Prabhat Jha, CM nomine Kiran Bedi among others. The party decided that it will wait for the final result before making any official comment. The sources said the leaders also discussed how to defend Modi and Shah in the event of a defeat.

Bedi has already said on Sunday that whether a defeat or victory, she will take the responsibility for the party’s showing. Her comment is being seen as an attempt to distance PM Modi from a possible defeat of the BJP.

BJP leader and Union minister Niramala Sitharaman on Sunday visited Bedi at her residence and told reporters that opinion and exit polls have their own importance but they will wait for the final results. “We are waiting for the results. We are hopeful that we will win,” she said.

When asked about Bedi’s statement in the wake of the exit poll figures on Saturday evening that she would take the blame if the party lost in Delhi, Sitharaman said, “She has given her personal view but we are hopeful the result will go in our favour.”

Asked if the late arrival of her party’s vision document caused the loss, she replied, “This is party’s decision. It does not make any difference. We came up with our manifesto in the last phase of campaign in the Lok Sabha elections as well but we won with a thumping majority,” she added.

According to the exit poll figures, while the AAP is likely to get anywhere between 31 and a staggering 54 seats, the BJP could bag 17 to 35 seats. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years until December 2013, it is forecast, would be routed, winning no seat or at best four seats.