As the Delhi Assembly elections conclude, exit polls indicate a potential shift in power, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) projected to secure a majority and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) facing a significant setback. According to Axis My India, a prominent consumer data intelligence firm led by Pradeep Gupta, the BJP is expected to win between 45-55 seats out of 70, signaling a comeback for the party in the national capital. Meanwhile, AAP, which had hoped for a third consecutive term, is projected to secure only 15-25 seats, while Congress is predicted to win at most one seat.
Despite the projections favoring BJP, AAP leader and incumbent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal remains the most preferred candidate for the position, according to the survey. He is followed by BJP leaders Parvesh Verma and Manoj Tiwari. The district-wise breakdown of Axis My India’s survey suggests that the BJP could dominate in key regions, winning seven out of ten seats in the New Delhi district, while AAP might secure three. In North East Delhi, BJP is projected to win six seats against AAP’s four, while South East Delhi is expected to witness a close contest, with both parties winning five seats each.
Most other exit polls released on Wednesday have also predicted a comfortable victory for BJP and a challenging road ahead for AAP. Notably, pollsters such as Peoples Pulse and Chanakya Strategies have projected a sweeping win for BJP, with the former predicting 51-60 seats for the party and the latter estimating 39-44 seats. Meanwhile, Matrize is the only agency that has forecasted a neck-and-neck fight, estimating 35-40 seats for BJP and 32-37 for AAP. The Congress, which once ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, is not expected to regain ground, with all surveys predicting it will win no more than three seats.
The voter turnout for the Delhi elections stood at 60.10%, slightly lower than the 62.59% recorded in the 2020 elections, when AAP won a landslide victory with 62 seats. The polling day was marked by allegations of malpractices, including claims of money distribution and fake voting, as both AAP and BJP engaged in a heated contest for control of the capital.
With counting scheduled for February 8, all eyes are now on the final results. While exit polls provide a general sense of voter sentiment, the actual outcome will determine whether BJP succeeds in reclaiming power or if AAP manages to defy predictions and retain its stronghold.
