Fri Feb 07 18:35:33 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Assembly Election Results Due Today Amidst Accusations and Exit Poll Controversy

**New Delhi, [Date]** – The counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly elections is underway, with results expected to reveal whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will secure a fourth consecutive term or if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will return to power after a 27-year hiatus. The Congress, meanwhile, hopes to make gains after two consecutive election defeats.

Early trends are expected from 8 am, following a 60.54% voter turnout on Wednesday. Several exit polls have predicted a BJP victory, a claim rejected by the AAP, which confidently asserts its leader Arvind Kejriwal will become Chief Minister for a fourth term. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva predicted a win of nearly 50 seats for his party. AAP leader Gopal Rai countered, claiming internal reports indicate an AAP victory in over 50 seats, with a close contest in only 7-8 constituencies.

The counting process involves 5,000 personnel and includes verification of VVPATs (voter verifiable paper audit trails) for accuracy.

The election is overshadowed by a swirling controversy. AAP alleges the BJP attempted to poach its candidates with offers of ₹15 crore and ministerial berths, prompting Lt. Governor VK Saxena to order an Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) probe. The BJP denies the allegations and demands an apology from the AAP, threatening legal action. An ACB team visited Kejriwal following the LG’s order. Kejriwal himself accused the BJP of using exit polls to create psychological pressure and executing “Operation Lotus,” a term often used to describe attempts to destabilize opposition governments.

A win for the AAP would solidify Kejriwal’s position as a dominant force in Delhi politics and significantly boost his national profile. A BJP victory, however, would mark a significant shift in Delhi’s political landscape, ending the AAP’s decade-long dominance. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years until 2013, aims for a resurgence after failing to win a single seat in the past two elections.

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