With exit polls heavily in its favour, will BJP come back to power in Delhi after 27 years?

New Delhi: A poll of seven exit polls has projected a decisive victory for the BJP in the Delhi Assembly elections, with the party expected to secure 42-49 seats. If these predictions hold true, it will mark the end of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) dominance in Delhi after three consecutive election wins. The final results will be announced on Saturday.

The projections indicate a major setback for AAP, which is expected to win 20-28 seats. This would bring an end to the party’s winning streak since its emergence in 2013. A loss could also raise questions about the future of the political outfit, which was born out of the anti-corruption movement in 2011.

Exit poll predictions:

People’s Pulse exit poll: BJP: 51-60, AAP: 10-18, Congress: 0-1

Matrize exit poll: BJP: 35-40, AAP: 32-37, Congress: 0-1

Mind Brink exit poll: AAP: 44-49, BJP: 15-21, Congress: 0-1

JVC exit poll: BJP: 39-45, AAP: 22-31, Congress: 0-2

People’s Insights exit poll: BJP: 40-44, AAP: 25-29, Congress: 0-1

Chanakya Strategies exit poll: BJP: 39-44, AAP: 25-28, Congress: 2-3

P-Marq exit poll: BJP: 39-49, AAP: 21-31, Congress: 0-1

DV-Research exit poll: BJP: 36-44, AAP: 26-34, Congress: 0

The majority mark in the 70-member Assembly is 36. In 2020, the AAP won 62 out of 70 seats with a vote share of 53.57 per cent. The BJP won eight seats with a 38.51 per cent vote share. The Congress got 4.26 per cent of votes and others polled 3.66 per cent votes. In 2015, the AAP won 67 seats, getting 54.6 per cent vote share.

Poll analysts believe the BJP’s strategy of promising freebies, coupled with the Union government’s income tax exemption relief from ₹7 lakh to ₹12 lakh, played a crucial role in shifting voter sentiment. The party’s campaign, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, appears to have struck a chord with the electorate.

Despite these projections, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar dismissed the exit poll results, claiming that her party would secure 58 seats while the BJP would win only around 12. She also accused the BJP of violating the model code of conduct and misusing official machinery, including the Delhi Police and the Election Commission.

Meanwhile, BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri, who contested against Chief Minister Atishi in Kalkaji, expressed confidence in his party’s victory. “The BJP is going to comfortably form the government,” he said.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva echoed this sentiment, stating that the party’s first Cabinet decision would be to approve a ₹2,500 monthly payment for all women. “I thank Delhi voters for choosing a double-engine government,” he said.