As votes are tallied in a hard-fought election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to form the next government in Delhi after 27 years.
According to the Election Commission of India (EC), the BJP is currently leading with 48 seats in the 70-member legislative assembly, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) holds 22 seats. A party needs at least 35 seats to claim a majority and form the government.
This election is seen as a high-stakes contest for both parties, given Delhi’s symbolic significance as the capital of India. The AAP, which has governed the city since 2013, has enjoyed support for its welfare policies. However, the party and its leadership have recently faced corruption allegations, which they have vehemently denied.
For the BJP, winning Delhi is more than a mere electoral victory—it would mark a significant political breakthrough in the capital after nearly three decades of being out of power there since 1998.
The party, which has had recent election successes in other states, such as Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, has thrown resources at the Delhi campaign, with Modi as well as Home Minister Amit Shah attending events.
Congress, the main opposition party at the national level, is also in the race, but it is not leading in any seat.
The party governed Delhi from 1998 to 2013, but was ousted over allegations of corruption that saw voters turn to AAP instead. It has failed to make a mark since.
More than 60% of eligible voters cast their ballot in the poll this time. Most exit polls predicted an absolute majority for the BJP, giving them more than 35 seats, although such predictions have gone wrong in the past.
Delhi has a unique governance structure. Key decisions related to public order, police and land are taken by the lieutenant governor (LG) who is appointed by the federal government. The state legislature handles matters including education, health and public services.
This division has often caused friction between the federal government and state legislature when they are run by rival parties.
The power structure is also a reason why the election campaigning in Delhi is more focused on welfare than on political or identity issues, which play a larger role in elections elsewhere in the country.
The AAP and BJP campaigns both promised improvements to public schools and free healthcare services as well as cash handouts to women.
Meanwhile, the BJP also hoped for a boost from last week's federal budget, which slashed income tax for the salaried middle class, a key voting bloc in the capital.
Experts say that a BJP win in politically crucial Delhi will reinforce Modi's popularity among Indian voters after his party lost its outright majority in last year's general election.
Source: BBC
BDST: 1410 HRS, FEB 08, 2025
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