NEW DELHI: The results of the Delhi Assembly elections 2025 will be announced on Saturday, February 8, deciding whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) continues its rule for a fourth term or if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returns to power in the national capital after 27 years. Meanwhile, the Congress is hoping to improve its performance after failing to win a single seat in the last two elections.

Exit Polls Predict a Close Contest

Various exit polls suggest that the BJP might have an edge over AAP, which has been in power since 2015. However, AAP has dismissed these predictions, expressing confidence that its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, will once again become Chief Minister.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has boldly claimed that his party will win nearly 50 seats, while AAP leaders insist they are on track for another victory.

Counting Begins at 8 AM

The vote-counting process will start at 8 AM on Saturday, with initial trends expected within a few hours. According to the Election Commission, voter turnout stood at 60.54% on Wednesday.

Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Alice Vaz stated that around 5,000 trained officials will be handling the counting process. To ensure fairness, five randomly selected Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) from each constituency will be verified.

Allegations of Poaching Spark Controversy

A political storm erupted on Friday after Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered an Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) probe into AAP’s claims that the BJP tried to buy its candidates for Rs.15 crore and offered them ministerial positions.

AAP leaders accused the BJP of using exit polls to manipulate public perception while secretly attempting to lure winning AAP candidates. The BJP, in response, demanded that AAP withdraw its allegations or face legal action.

Delhi BJP general secretary Vishnu Mittal had earlier urged an ACB probe into AAP’s claims. Following the LG’s orders, an ACB team also met with Kejriwal regarding the matter.

AAP Confident of Victory

On Friday, Kejriwal held a meeting with all AAP candidates, reassuring them that his party would return to power. He alleged that the opposition was trying to create “psychological pressure” through exit polls while executing "Operation Lotus"a term often used for BJP’s alleged strategy of influencing rival party members.

After the meeting, AAP leader Gopal Rai stated that feedback from party candidates suggests they are set to win over 50 seats, with a close contest in about 7-8 constituencies.

A Tough Fight for BJP and Congress

AAP shook up Delhi’s political landscape in 2015, winning 67 out of 70 seats and reducing both the BJP and Congress to minor players. The party continued its dominance in 2020, securing 62 seats.

If AAP wins again, it will further strengthen Kejriwal’s leadership in Delhi and enhance his national influence. However, a BJP victory would mark a significant comeback for the party, breaking AAP’s stronghold after nearly three decades.

The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years until 2013, is still struggling to regain its lost ground, having failed to win any seats in the last two elections.