Delhi elections results: BJP established for capital return

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The BJP has crossed the majority mark as early leads are in for the Delhi Assembly election results. Exit polls had shown a BJP victory in the polls as the AAP eyes a hat-trick in the national capital. 


At 8:30 am, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP went ahead but the BJP made ground to reestablish its lead in a see-saw battle. The Congress, predicted to face a wipeout, leads in one seat. 


The AAP first came to power in Delhi in 2013, winning 28 seats, but the government lasted just 49 days. In the 2015 elections, the party won a record 67 seats. In the 2020 polls, AAP won 62 seats.


Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi expressed confidence in her party's victory in the elections and claimed that the people of Delhi, including from her constituency Kalkaji, would support the AAP and re-elect Mr Kejriwal with a huge mandate.


"This has not been an ordinary election, it has been a fight between the good and evil, a fight between work and (gundagardi) hooliganism. I have high hopes that the people of Kalkaji constituency and the entire state of Delhi will stand up with the party that has worked, will stand up with the Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal," she said. "Arvind Kejriwal will become the Chief Minister of Delhi for the fourth time with a huge majority."


AAP's top leaders, including Mr Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Atishi, are trailing from their respective seats, according to early trends.


Congress candidate from New Delhi Assembly constituency Sandeep Dikshit, who is battling Mr Kejriwal for the seat, said that he has no clue about any post-poll alliance of his party with AAP.


 "I have no idea about the alliance. It is up to the decision of the high command. Let the counting of the votes happen," Mr Dikshit said. 


Chanakya Strategies forecast AAP would get 25-28 seats, while the BJP would get 39-44 and the Congress up to three seats. DV Research predicted the AAP would win 26-34, BJP 36-44 and the Congress 0.


The ruling AAP is eyeing a fourth straight win, while the BJP is looking for a comeback after 1998 while the Congress is struggling to reclaim its legacy.


The turnout in the 2020 Delhi assembly election stood at 62.82 per cent, 4.65 per cent lower than 67.47 per cent in 2015.


Counting of votes for Delhi's 70 assembly constituencies began amid tight security at 19 locations across the national capital today.