Exit polls predict a historic BJP win in the Delhi assembly elections, signaling the possible end of AAP’s dominance amid corruption allegations and anti-incumbency. (PTI)
Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on the verge of breaking a 27-year electoral drought in the Delhi assembly elections, according to multiple exit polls released on Wednesday. These polls indicate a significant erosion in the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) voter base, suggesting that the BJP might finally wrest control of the national capital. The predictions follow a heated campaign and a high voter turnout that nearly matched 2020 figures across several constituencies. The final vote count is scheduled for Saturday.
While exit polls are often subject to errors, the overwhelming consensus suggests a dramatic turnaround for the BJP. In the 2020 elections, the AAP secured 62 out of 70 seats with a 53.5% vote share, while the BJP managed only eight seats with 38.5% of the votes. The Congress, once a dominant force, failed to win any seats. This time, all but two exit polls predict that the BJP will either secure an outright majority or come close to doing so. Three exit polls even suggest a landslide victory, signaling a major political shift in the capital. If these projections hold, the BJP will maintain the momentum it gained in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it swept all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi, and its recent Maharashtra victory.
BJP leaders attribute their projected success to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance and an anti-incumbency wave against the AAP. “This is a Modi wave. The people of Delhi want development just like the rest of the country under PM Narendra Modi. The hard work put in by our party workers and the guidance of our leaders have reaped fruit… The BJP will cross the 50-seat mark,” said BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri, who contested against Delhi CM Atishi from Kalkaji. In contrast, the AAP remains optimistic despite the grim projections. “Exit polls always show AAP getting fewer seats, but when the actual results come, AAP gets bumper seats. For the fourth time, the people of Delhi will be making Arvind Kejriwal their CM,” said AAP leader Reena Gupta.
If the exit poll numbers translate into actual results, the implications for the AAP will be severe. The party, which emerged from the 2011 anti-corruption movement, has struggled to shake off serious allegations of corruption. Party chief and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has been at the center of these accusations, weakening AAP’s hold over its traditional vote banks. With Punjab as its only remaining stronghold, the party faces an existential crisis.
The exit polls also confirm that the Delhi elections remain a two-party contest, with Congress playing a minor role. The party is expected to win a maximum of two seats. “We have fought the elections well… we’ll wait for the 8th. The Congress that was thought to be nothing in Delhi has changed all equations,” said Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, who contested against Kejriwal in New Delhi.
The Delhi assembly elections mark the first major political contest of 2025, reflecting key demographic and governance concerns. The AAP spent much of the past five years battling corruption charges and internal turmoil, leading to significant dissatisfaction among voters. The party attempted to counter anti-incumbency by dropping nearly a third of its sitting MLAs and introducing new welfare schemes, including cash handouts for women and free healthcare for senior citizens.
The BJP, on the other hand, focused its campaign on misgovernance, corruption, and Delhi’s deteriorating civic infrastructure. The party, which previously struggled to gain traction in assembly elections, sees this as its best chance to reclaim power in the capital.
Several factors have contributed to the high-stakes nature of these elections. Key issues include the quality of civic infrastructure, rising crime, governance failures, and economic concerns. The battle between the Delhi government and the lieutenant governor over administrative control further exacerbated governance challenges, leading to stalled projects and policy deadlocks.
For the BJP, the elections present an opportunity to capitalize on middle-class frustration over governance failures. The party has also pushed welfare measures and tax reliefs in the Union Budget to appeal to a broader voter base. Meanwhile, the Congress, despite its limited influence, could play a role in marginal constituencies, particularly those with minority and marginalized caste voters. As counting day approaches, Delhi braces for a potentially historic political shift. If exit polls prove accurate, the BJP will end nearly three decades of AAP and Congress dominance, signaling a new era in the capital’s political landscape.
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