Former Delhi chief minister and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal, who is contesting for a fourth consecutive term, is trailing again after briefly leading from the New Delhi assembly seat. The constituency, considered his stronghold since 2013, has seen a close contest this time, with Bharatiya Janata Party leader Parvesh Verma currently leading, according to early trends.
The Election Commission’s initial trends showed Arvind Kejriwal leading by a narrow margin of 225 votes before slipping behind again. Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit, the son of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, who lost to Arvind Kejriwal in 2013, is also in the fray from the same seat. However, the primary battle remains between Aam Aadmi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party.
As counting progresses, Bharatiya Janata Party is showing a strong performance across Delhi, leading in 45 seats, while Aam Aadmi Party is ahead in 24. Congress, which has been struggling to make a comeback after two successive wipeouts, is leading in just one seat. The final election results will determine whether Aam Aadmi Party retains power for a fourth term or if Bharatiya Janata Party makes a historic comeback in the national capital after nearly three decades. The counting of votes began at 8 am across all 70 constituencies, with a tense battle unfolding.
A major challenge for Aam Aadmi Party in this election has been the Delhi liquor policy case, which saw Arvind Kejriwal stepping down as chief minister and his deputy Manish Sisodia spending months in jail. The controversy played a significant role in shaping the election narrative, with Bharatiya Janata Party aggressively attacking Aam Aadmi Party on corruption allegations. Despite this, both parties focused their campaigns on key voter concerns, including improvements in public schools and free healthcare services.
Exit polls had already hinted at a tough battle for Aam Aadmi Party, with most predicting a strong Bharatiya Janata Party performance. Projections suggested that Bharatiya Janata Party would win between 45 to 55 seats, while Aam Aadmi Party was expected to suffer significant losses. Congress, hoping to break its losing streak, was predicted to secure just one seat.
Aam Aadmi Party has dominated Delhi politics over the past decade, with back-to-back landslide victories. In 2015, Arvind Kejriwal’s party won 67 out of 70 seats, reducing Bharatiya Janata Party to just three seats, while Congress failed to open its account. In 2020, Aam Aadmi Party retained power with 62 seats, while Bharatiya Janata Party marginally improved its tally to eight. Congress again failed to win a single seat.
With Bharatiya Janata Party now leading in a majority of seats and Aam Aadmi Party trailing in key constituencies, the final results will determine whether Arvind Kejriwal’s stronghold in Delhi politics remains intact or if Bharatiya Janata Party secures a breakthrough victory after decades of struggle in the capital.
