Arvind Kejriwal meditating inside party office as leads come in

New Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal, founder of the Aam Aadmi Party, is meditating now at the party's headquarters in Delhi. Outside, supporters are gathered around a large television screen tuned in to NDTV India, and shouts of "jhaadu chal gaya (the broom is working)" ring out when the party is shown in the lead.

Counting has just begun in the capital.

There are great expectations for Mr Kejriwal, a former tax inspector.  The exit poll of polls - the aggregate of polls by different agencies - shows the Aam Aadmi Party getting 17 seats, the same as the Congress. The BJP is expected to get 34, one short of the half-way mark.

Mr Kejriwal told reporters early this morning that his party will not ally with either the BJP or the Congress if the results deliver a hung assembly.

"Our party doesn't worry about things like who will be chief minister.  We worry about how to help the country," the 44-year-old said, a checked scarf wrapped tightly around him.

"The BJP has approached some of our candidates," he said, "but they will not break us."  

Mr Kejriwal is running for office against Sheila Dikshit, who is hoping for a fourth term as chief minister. "I have nothing to say to Sheila Dikshit," he said to NDTV. "Yes, I think I will win New Delhi constituency," he predicted of his direct contest with Ms Dikshit.