New Delhi: The results of the Delhi assembly elections will be declared today, deciding whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secures a fourth consecutive term or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returns to power in the national capital after 27 years. The Congress, meanwhile, hopes to regain some relevance in the city’s political landscape.
The high-stakes contest saw AAP, BJP and Congress making extensive promises, particularly targeting women and youth, in their bid to sway voters. The polling, held in a single phase on February 5, recorded a voter turnout of 60.54 per cent, with over 15 million eligible voters deciding the fate of 699 candidates across 70 constituencies.
Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Alice Vaz said that around 5,000 trained personnel would oversee the counting process, which begins on Saturday morning. In each constituency, five randomly selected Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) will be verified for transparency.
Exit polls predict BJP edge
Most exit polls have projected a BJP victory. Axis My India gives the saffron party 45-55 seats, while CNX expects 49-61. People’s Pulse predicts a landslide with 51-60 seats for BJP, whereas People’s Insight gives it 40-44. Poll Diary estimates BJP’s tally at 42-50. AAP’s best projections come from P-Marq, which gives it 39-44 seats, while BJP is seen winning 21-31. Matrize and JVC indicate a closer fight, with AAP expected to get 32-37 and 22-31 seats, respectively.
Key contests
Among the most-watched constituencies is New Delhi, where Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is seeking a fourth term against BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit. AAP’s Atishi is in a three-way battle in Kalkaji, while the party’s Amanatullah Khan is vying for a third term in Okhla against Congress’s Ariba Khan. AAP’s former deputy CM Manish Sisodia is contesting from Jangpura, while popular educator Awadh Ojha has replaced him in Patparganj.
Earlier performances
AAP won 67 out of 70 seats in 2015 and retained power in 2020 with 62 seats. A victory would strengthen Kejriwal’s hold in Delhi, while a BJP win would mark its first return to power since 1998. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years till 2013, is still struggling to reclaim lost ground.
