Civic polls indicator for future: BJP

New Delhi, April 17 (IANS) A jubilant Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tuesday called the results of Delhi civic polls a prelude for the coming state assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

As the BJP office at 11, Ashok Road here resounded with the sound of crackers and drums and activists distributed sweets, party chief Nitin Gadkari said these polls, along with trends seen elsewhere in the country, showed BJP was gaining support.

"This will give direction to other polls," he asserted.

"We are confident that coming assembly and Lok Sabha polls will also show victory of BJP, we are confident."

According to figures available till 3.30 p.m., BJP led the polls, winning 100 of 194 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for which results have been declared so far and leading on 22 more seats. The recently trifurcated MCD has a total 272 wards.

However, the number is likely to be lesser than its tally of last time, which was 164, owing to a large number of rebel candidates.

Party leader and Delhi incharge Venkaiah Naidu said Tuesday morning that the party may get lesser seats due to the rebels.

Leaving the decision on taking back rebels for the party's Delhi unit, Gadkari said corruption and price rise were the main reason for the "pro-BJP wave".

"People are tired of the corruption of Congress and the price rise," he said.

Asked about the last time when BJP won MCD polls but lost the assembly elections, Gadkari said this time, the trend was reflected in several other places and there was public sentiment against Congress.

"The inclination of the public has been towards BJP, whether it is Punjab, Goa, Mumbai civic polls or now Delhi civic polls," he said.

Asked if the party was expecting a mid-term poll, Gadkari said it depended on Congress.

"BJP has never tried to bring instability in the country... whether or not mid-term polls will be held depends on the Congress and UPA (United Progressive Alliance)," he said.