Wed Feb 05 16:51:42 UTC 2025: ## Exit Polls Predict BJP’s Return to Power in Delhi After 27 Years
**New Delhi:** Eleven exit polls released following the conclusion of voting for the 70 Delhi Assembly seats predict a BJP victory. Nine polls forecast a BJP majority, while two suggest an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) win. A poll of polls indicates BJP winning 39 seats, AAP 30, and Congress securing just one.
A BJP victory would mark their return to power after a 27-year absence, their last majority government being formed in 1993 with 49 seats and three Chief Ministers in five years (Madan Lal Khurana, Sahib Singh Verma, and Sushma Swaraj). Interestingly, the children of all three former CMs are active in Delhi’s current political landscape.
Voter turnout reached 57.70% by 5 PM on Wednesday, with final figures pending. Results will be declared on February 8th. A party needs 36 seats to form a government.
Reactions to the exit polls were varied. BJP MP Manoj Tiwari expressed confidence in a better-than-predicted result, calling it a “homecoming” for the party. AAP leader Sushil Gupta countered, highlighting AAP’s consistent work for Delhi and predicting a victory on February 8th. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla anticipated a hung assembly with all three major parties securing comparable seat numbers.
The exit polls, based on surveys conducted with voters exiting polling booths, are subject to variation. Historical data show that exit polls have had mixed accuracy in predicting Delhi election results.
The Lok Sabha election results, where BJP swept all seven Delhi seats with 54.7% of the vote, seemingly contradict the exit poll predictions of a close contest. However, Delhi’s electorate is known for its volatility, with significant swings in voting patterns between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. A large percentage of swing voters (around 18%) are seen as key in determining the outcome. Furthermore, only AAP has declared a Chief Ministerial candidate (Arvind Kejriwal), while BJP and Congress haven’t officially named theirs, leading to speculation around potential candidates like Pervesh Verma, Ramesh Bidhuri, and Dushyant Gautam for BJP and Devender Yadav, Sandeep Dikshit, and Alka Lamba for Congress.
The possibility of a Dalit Chief Minister under a BJP government is also being discussed.
The final voter turnout was 57.85%, with the highest (63.83%) in North East Delhi and the lowest (53.77%) in South East Delhi (BJP MP Manoj Tiwari’s constituency). This represents the lowest turnout in 12 years.
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