New Delhi, April 26 (IANS): The BJP was on Wednesday set to retain its hold on Delhi civic bodies, winning 143 and leading in 31 of the 270 wards, while the AAP was at a distant second with 35 wins and 16 leads, according to State Election Commission officials.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has won 53 wards of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation while it is leading in 12 more.

The party has also pocketed 53 of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation wards and is ahead in 10 more. In East Delhi, the BJP has won 37 wards and is ahead in nine more, according to trends available till late afternoon.

The city's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has won 10 wards and is leading in eight more in the South Delhi Municipal Corporation. It has bagged 17 wards in the North Delhi Municipal Corporation and is leading in six more. In the East, the AAP has won eight and is ahead in two more wards.

The Congress has won a total of 22 wards in all the three bodies and is ahead in four more.

Voting for 270 of the 272 wards was held on Sunday. Polling for the two remaining wards was deferred due to the death of two candidates.