Delhi Election Results 2025: Can Kejriwal's 'jharoo' clean sweep once again or will BJP's lotus blossom in national capital?

Delhi Elections 2025: With just a day left, all eyes have shifted to the much-awaited national capital's results, set to be announced by the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Saturday (February 8). The stakes are sky-high as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeks a historic third consecutive term, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) aims to reclaim power in the national capital after a 26-year wait. This election is not merely a contest between two political parties but a clash of ideologies, governance models, and the trust of Delhi's voters. For the BJP, a victory would mark a monumental moment, ending its nearly three-decade-long absence from power in Delhi. For AAP, winning the 2025 polls would mean achieving a hat-trick, solidifying its position as the dominant force in the capital's political landscape. To form the government in the union territory, a party must secure at least 36 seats in the 70-member assembly. 

As the nation waits with bated breath, the question remains: Will Kejriwal's 'jharoo' sweep Delhi clean once again, or will the BJP's lotus finally blossom in the heart of India?

Delhi Election 2025: What exit polls say 

According to the Zee News-ICPL exit poll, AAP is projected to win 33-38 seats, while BJP is expected to secure 31-36 seats. The Congress, which once dominated Delhi’s political landscape, may remain marginalised with 0-2 seats. However, as past elections have shown, exit polls do not always reflect final results.  

Arvind Kejriwal 3.0?  

"I will only sit on that chair after people give a certificate of honesty"—these were the words of former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who stepped down from office on September 17, 2024. This election is significant not just because it could mark his fourth consecutive victory but also because it follows his arrest and abrupt resignation.

Kejriwal has served as Delhi’s chief minister for nearly a decade. He first took office in 2013 with outside support from Congress but resigned in 2014 when President’s Rule was imposed. He returned as chief minister in 2015 and led AAP to landslide victories in both the 2015 and 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. However, in 2024, his tenure was rocked by allegations linked to the controversial Delhi excise policy 'scam,' leading to his arrest in March that year on charges of corruption and money laundering.  

Political analyst Rasheed Kidwai believes a win for AAP would be a major setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. "This was a now-or-never opportunity for the BJP because, for the first time, Kejriwal was vulnerable," Kidwai told Zeebiz.com.  

If AAP secures a victory, it will elevate him to a national icon—one who could emerge as the face of a non-Congress opposition backed by leaders like Akhilesh Yadav, Mamata Banerjee, and Uddhav Thackeray, Kidwai said.

"The entire election revolved around Kejriwal. Congress was anti-Kejriwal, BJP was anti-Kejriwal, but there was only one Kejriwal. The people of Delhi now have a choice—vote for him or against him," Kidwai remarked.  

BJP to regain power after 26 years?  

Despite its dominance in national politics, the BJP has struggled to win a Delhi assembly election for over two decades. However, with recent victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, the party is optimistic about making inroads in the national capital. The recent budget, which provided tax relief to the salaried middle class—one of its key voter bases—could also work in its favour.  

Political commentator Amitabh Tiwari told Zeebiz.com, "The Aam Aadmi Party is on the back foot at the moment. Why? Because there hasn't been any work done in the last five years."  

"The performance of Kejriwal 2.0 is much weaker than the performance of Kejriwal 1.0," he noted. Tiwari stated that the Aam Aadmi Party's governance was impacted as its leaders were in jail. He further pointed out that the party's anti-corruption stance suffered a significant dent due to allegations and controversies, including the liquor policy scandal. These issues, he noted, eroded the support of middle-class voters who previously backed AAP."

Congress' struggle for relevance 

Political analysts suggest that Congress is unlikely to secure a significant number of seats in Delhi. While its vote share is expected to rise from 4 per cent to around 9 per cent, the party has struggled to hold its ground, particularly due to contradictions in its stance towards AAP. The shift from alliance to criticism of Arvind Kejriwal has not gone unnoticed by voters, analysts noted.  

Who could be Delhi’s next chief minister?

If AAP retains power, key names in contention include Atishi, Gopal Rai, and Manish Sisodia. On the BJP’s side, Parvesh Verma is emerging as a prominent contender, with Smriti Irani, Bansuri Swaraj, and Ramesh Bidhuri also among those being discussed.