Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is on track to form the government in Delhi after a closely contested election. With the vote count showing the BJP leading in 48 seats out of the 70-member legislative assembly, while the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is ahead in 22 seats, the BJP is well-positioned to surpass the 35-seat majority required to govern.
The election has been a high-stakes contest for both the BJP and AAP, with Delhi’s symbolic importance as the national capital making it a prestigious battle. Since 2013, AAP has governed the city, earning praise for its welfare-focused policies, although it has recently faced corruption allegations, which the party denies. On the other hand, the BJP sees Delhi as a crucial prize, having been out of power in the city since 1998.
BJP’s campaign, bolstered by resources and support from Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, has focused on a wide range of issues, including public education and healthcare improvements, alongside cash handouts for women. The party also hoped to gain traction from the recent federal budget, which reduced income tax for the salaried middle class—an important voting demographic in Delhi.
Delhi’s unique governance structure, where the federal government controls critical matters like public order and police, while the state legislature handles local services like education and health, has meant that campaigns tend to focus more on welfare than on political or identity issues. This is different from other parts of India where such issues often dominate.
More than 60% of eligible voters cast their ballots in this election, and most exit polls had predicted an absolute majority for the BJP. However, such predictions have not always been accurate in the past. A BJP victory in Delhi would not only represent a significant political triumph but also solidify Modi’s popularity after his party’s loss of an outright majority in the 2024 general elections.
If AAP, which has gained recognition for improving the city’s public services, loses the election, it will be a major setback for the party, especially as it tries to maintain its influence in Delhi and beyond. AAP’s leader, Arvind Kejriwal, has been embroiled in corruption allegations and was briefly jailed in connection to a now-cancelled alcohol sales policy. Kejriwal, who resigned from his position as Chief Minister after his release from jail, has accused the BJP of political vendetta, while the BJP denies the charges.
The election’s campaign largely focused on welfare promises but notably did not center on Delhi’s ongoing air pollution crisis. Despite promises from the BJP and other parties to tackle the issue, it did not become a significant talking point during the campaign.
As the results come in, a BJP win in Delhi would not only mark a significant political shift in the capital but also strengthen the party’s influence on the national stage.
