AAP is expected to win fewer than 20 seats and could potentially be reduced to single digits, while Congress is projected to win no seats.
Published Feb 05, 2025 | 7:10 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 05, 2025 | 7:10 PM
Aam Aadmi Party's decade-long rule over the state is likely to end.
Synopsis: The BJP is projected to win between 51-60 seats in Delhi’s legislative assembly elections, marking a potential end to the Aam Aadmi Party’s ten-year governance of the capital, according to Peoples Pulse Exit poll.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to win 51-60 seats in the 70-member Delhi legislative assembly, likely ending the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s decade-long rule over the state, according to Peoples Pulse exit poll projections.
Following the completion of polling for the Delhi Assembly Elections on 5 February, Peoples Pulse released projections from exit polls and tracker polls conducted over the past month, indicating that the BJP will likely form the next government in Delhi with a comfortable margin after a gap of 27 years.
According to the survey, AAP is expected to garner less than 20 seats and could possibly be reduced to single digits. The range is likely between 10-19, depending on how Congress performs, which is expected to cut into AAP’s vote share significantly. However, projections expect the Grand Old Party to win no seats.
Voter behaviour indicates that the BJP could poll as high as 48.5-52.5 percent vote share. AAP is expected to garner between 36.5-40.5 percent, the gap offering no comfort to incumbent Arvind Kejriwal and his team, while Congress is expected to receive 6.5-8.5 percent.
Interestingly, AAP leads BJP among female voters by just over 8.3 percent. However, among men, more than half (53 percent) prefer BJP with AAP far behind at 35 percent. BJP has gained support among voters of all age groups – from 18 to 25 to those beyond 50.
Religion-wise, 59.1 percent of Hindus back BJP compared to 32.1 percent favouring AAP. However, AAP has the support of 70.5 percent of Muslims, as well as most Sikhs (54.2 percent).
Among caste groups, BJP leads among Brahmins, Rajputs, Jats, Baniyas and Agarwals, while AAP maintains support among Jatavs, Chamars and Valmikis.
Looking at preferences of voters from different regions, AAP is marginally ahead only among Punjabis and South Indians. All others – Delhi locals and those from UP/Bihar-Purvanchal, Kashmir and Northeast, as well as Marwaris – favour the BJP.
From 1998 to 2014, veteran Congress leader late Sheila Dikshit served as Chief Minister of Delhi for three terms, followed by Arvind Kejriwal for two terms.
Several factors – a host of charges against Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, constant conflict between AAP and the LG affecting Delhi’s development, sops offered in the budget for the middle class and BJP’s efficient micromanagement – appear to be contributing to the likely saffron party victory.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
