A Brief History of Delhi’s Political Landscape
Delhi has witnessed a dynamic political history with power oscillating between key political parties over the decades. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) last ruled the national capital in 1998 under Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj before the Congress, led by Sheila Dikshit, held power for three consecutive terms (1998-2013). In 2013, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged as a strong contender, forming a government briefly before winning a landslide victory in 2015 and securing a second term in 2020. Now, as the 2025 Delhi Assembly election results approach, exit polls indicate a potential return of the BJP to power after 20 years.
Exit Polls Predict BJP’s Resurgence
Exit polls for the 2025 Delhi elections have projected a significant victory for the BJP, signaling an end to AAP’s dominance. According to NDTV’s Poll of Exit Polls, the BJP is expected to secure 41 seats, AAP 28, and Congress just one seat. If these projections hold true, this would mark the BJP’s first government in Delhi in two decades.
Multiple agencies, including DV Research, Chanakya Strategies, JVC, Poll Diary, P-Marq, People’s Insight, and People’s Pulse, forecast a strong performance by the BJP. Some polls, such as People’s Pulse, even predict a landslide, giving the party between 51 and 60 seats. Others like Poll Diary and People’s Insight expect the BJP to win over 40 seats, with a few forecasting a minimum of 39 seats.
Is There Hope for AAP?
Despite exit poll predictions suggesting a tough road ahead for AAP, a few surveys still indicate a possible victory for Arvind Kejriwal’s party. The WeePreside exit poll projects AAP winning between 46 and 52 seats, while the Mind Brink poll estimates 44 to 49 seats.
However, the majority of polls suggest a decline for AAP, with the party expected to win between 10 (People’s Pulse) and 34 (DV Research) seats. This would be a significant drop from their 67-seat win in 2015 and 62-seat victory in 2020. The party, however, remains defiant, with AAP leader Sushil Gupta dismissing the exit poll results and expressing confidence in securing a third term.
Congress Continues to Struggle
Once a dominant force in Delhi politics, the Congress party remains on a downward trajectory. Exit polls predict another poor performance, with most agencies giving the party zero to three seats. Chanakya Strategies offers a slight ray of hope with a maximum of three seats, but People’s Pulse anticipates another total wipe out. This would mark the third consecutive election in which Congress fails to make a meaningful impact in the capital.
A New Era for Delhi?
While exit polls suggest a major shift in Delhi’s political landscape, history has shown that they are not always accurate. In 2020, exit polls underestimated AAP’s strength, and the party secured a decisive victory. With the official results set to be announced on February 8, all eyes will be on whether the BJP can truly reclaim power or if AAP can defy the odds once again. Regardless of the outcome, the 2025 Delhi Assembly election marks a pivotal moment in the city’s governance and future political direction.
(With inputs from agencies)
