Delhi turns saffron as BJP bags 48 seats, AAP-surge stops at 22

As vote counting commenced, the BJP surged past the majority mark in the 70-member Assembly, leading in 48 seats, while AAP trailed with 22. The Congress, which has struggled for relevance in Delhi’s political scene, was ahead in just one seat.

Kejriwal Loses New Delhi Seat

In a major blow to AAP, its leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lost the high-profile New Delhi constituency seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma.

The counting process is being conducted at 19 centers under a strict three-tier security arrangement to ensure a smooth electoral process. Exit polls had already predicted a BJP resurgence in the capital, and the current trends seem to validate those forecasts.

Voter Turnout and Key Constituencies

The February 5 elections witnessed a voter turnout of 60.54%, reflecting a slight decline from the 2020 elections by approximately 2.5 percentage points. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 50.42 lakh male voters and 44.08 lakh female voters participated in the electoral process.

ALSO READ: Delhi LG orders probe into AAP allegation of BJP attempt to poach candidates

Mustafabad recorded the highest voter turnout at 69.01%, while Mehrauli had the lowest participation, with only 53.02% of registered voters casting their ballots.

Among the key battlegrounds, the New Delhi seat remains crucial as Arvind Kejriwal faces a stiff challenge from BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit. In Kalkaji, CM Atishi is pitted against BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress’s Alka Lamba, while Jangpura sees former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia battling BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah and Congress’s Farhad Suri.

Exit Polls and BJP’s Resurgence

Exit polls had largely predicted a BJP victory, with the party expected to secure around 39 seats, comfortably surpassing the 36-seat majority mark. AAP, which won 62 seats in the 2020 elections, was projected to face a sharp decline, likely securing around 30 seats. Congress, which has failed to win any seats in the past two elections, is forecasted to win 1-2 seats this time.

However, some pollsters, including Mind Brink and WeePreside, suggested that AAP might still retain power, projecting 44 to 52 seats for the party. Meanwhile, Matrize forecasted a hung assembly, with the BJP potentially winning 35 to 40 seats and AAP securing 32 to 37 seats.

AAP’s Challenges and BJP’s Strategy

Despite battling anti-incumbency sentiments and corruption allegations, AAP campaigned aggressively on its governance record and welfare schemes. However, the BJP capitalized on accusations of misgovernance and corruption, presenting itself as the credible alternative.

ALSO READ: Arvind Kejriwal finds support, MLA Mukesh Ahlawat says he was offered Rs 15 cr, ministerial berth to switch sides

Political tensions escalated in the final days of the campaign, with AAP accusing the BJP-led Haryana government of “poisoning Yamuna water.” This led to sharp exchanges between both parties, further polarizing the electorate.

Historic Context: AAP’s Rise and BJP’s Persistence

AAP first came to power in 2013 in a hung assembly, with Kejriwal resigning after 49 days over the Jan Lokpal Bill. However, the party made a historic comeback in 2015, securing 67 out of 70 seats, followed by another landslide in 2020 with 62 seats. In contrast, the BJP remained in single digits in both elections, while Congress failed to win any seats.

As Delhi awaits the final results, all eyes are on whether the BJP can officially reclaim the capital after nearly three decades or if AAP can stage an eleventh-hour comeback. The final outcome will shape the city’s governance and political dynamics for the next five years.