NEW DELHI: In a few hours on Saturday, the fate of a high-octane electoral contest for Delhi’s 70 assembly seats will be known. While the contest to form the next govt is largely considered to be between the incumbent AAP and BJP, which has sat in the opposition since 1998, Congress might disrupt the calculations of the two with a surprise or two.
The counting of votes will begin at 8am and the broad trends will be available as early as 10.30am. By 1pm, Delhi may well know who will govern the city for the next five years.
While AAP and Congress fielded 70 candidates each, BJP contested 68, leaving two to its two allies, Janata Dal (United) and Loktantrik Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas). But there were 699 candidates in total – 603 men, 95 women and a third-gender contestant. Over 60.5% of voters, or 9,451,997 of 15,614,000 electors, visited the polling stations on Feb 5.
Delhi’s chief electoral officer, R Alice Vaz, said the electronic voting machines were secure in 70 strong rooms, each for one assembly constituency, under multi-layered security across 19 locations.
Most exit polls have predicted a close contest, with BJP given the edge in terms of seats and vote share. Winning a minority 28 seats, AAP formed the govt with the outside support of Congress in 2013, which lasted only 49 days. The subsequent election in 2015 saw the party gain a massive mandate with 67 of 70 seats in its kitty. In 2020, AAP reprised its triumph, winning 62 seats while BJP got the remaining eight. Congress again failed to open its account.
None of the parties are laying any store by the exit polls. AAP senior Saurabh Bharadwaj told reporters on Wednesday that the exit polls had similarly predicted defeat in 2013 and 2015 and victory in 2020 but with fewer seats. “Exit polls have always shown AAP getting fewer votes. But in several areas of my constituency, people stopped their vehicles to tell me AAP would win,” he claimed.
AAP sought a third term based on its performance in health, education, water and other sectors, including providing free power and water to frugal consumers and free bus rides to women in public transport. It has promised more welfare schemes for women, senior citizens and other sections of society.
Also read: Delhi Election Results 2025 Live Updates
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva exuded optimism of his party being elected with a huge margin. “Our victory will be more spectacular than what exit polls show,” he asserted on Friday. BJP, which has been out of office for nearly 26 years, assured it would continue the welfare schemes already implemented and proposed several new benefits for various sections of society. It also promised bigger development with a “double-engine govt”.
Delhi Congress president Devender Yadav said his party fought a very good election whatever the exit poll said. “Our efforts will be converted into a vote bank. We worked diligently at the grassroots level to revive our cadre,” he said, having taken the opportunity to remind Delhi of massive development under Sheila Dikshit’s Congress govt from 1998 to 2013.
Check out the latest news about Delhi Elections 2025including key constituencies such as Kalkaji, Karol bah, Tilak Nagar, New Delhi, Laxmi Nagar, Badarpur, Ghonda, Krishna Nagar, Model Town, Rithala, Trilokpuri, Najafgarhand Matia Mahal.
