Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party seems set to secure victory in the Delhi state elections, potentially ending a 27-year dry spell, as indicated by voter exit polls. If these projections are accurate, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on track to displace the reformist Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has governed the national capital region for nearly a decade, and reclaim control of the Delhi assembly.
A comprehensive “poll of polls” suggests that the pro-Hindu BJP could win 43 seats, while the AAP is expected to secure 26. The secular Congress party, led by Rahul Gandhi, is projected to win only one seat in a region that was once its stronghold. However, some individual polls indicate a much closer race, and the AAP has challenged the accuracy of the exit polls. AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar stated, “Exit polls have never been right about the AAP. Every time, the AAP has stormed to power with a massive mandate, and this time will be no different.” In the 2020 elections, the AAP won 62 out of 70 assembly seats, with the BJP taking the remaining eight.
A defeat for the AAP would represent a significant setback for the anti-establishment party and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal, who rose to prominence through an anti-corruption campaign that propelled him to power in 2015. Kejriwal founded the AAP in 2012, positioning it as a movement for the common man and pledging to enhance essential services such as health, electricity, water, and education.
Kejriwal, whose party symbol is a broom, has been a vocal critic of Modi, who has reciprocated with sharp criticism. The Prime Minister campaigned vigorously against the AAP in the lead-up to the Delhi elections, participating in numerous rallies.
A projected win for the BJP would provide a boost for the party following a lackluster performance in the May 2024 general elections, where it failed to secure an outright majority in parliament and formed a government with coalition partners. However, after recent victories in Maharashtra and Haryana, the BJP’s prospects may be improving. Official results are expected on Saturday.
Throughout the campaign, all three parties actively courted voters with promises of various incentives, including free water, electricity, and cash benefits. The AAP’s governance model has been built on popular public welfare initiatives that garnered significant support. The party has also marketed itself as a “squeaky clean” alternative to the BJP and Congress.
Nevertheless, the AAP’s second term has been marred by corruption allegations, leading to the imprisonment of Kejriwal and two of his closest ministers. These arrests are linked to a controversial liquor policy, with accusations that the AAP accepted kickbacks. The central government’s investigation agencies have claimed that liquor businesses funneled bribes to AAP leaders. The AAP has denied these allegations, asserting that the BJP is pursuing a political vendetta.
