The BJP is set to stage a comeback in Delhi after more than 26 years, sweeping the Aam Aadmi Party away from the capital in another big win to extend its saffron footprint in the country. Citizens cast their votes in the Assembly election on February 5, and counting took place on February 8.
As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), the BJP is currently winning or leading in 48 seats, with the AAP in 22 seats. The Congress has failed to win a single seat in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, now for the third time in a row. Speaking about the mandate, outgoing Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi called it a “setback” but vowed to continue the party’s struggle against the BJP.
The AAP leader also expressed gratitude to her supporters, saying, “I thank the people who trusted me. I also thank my team, which faced all challenges and took our message to the public. I have won my seat but this is not a time for celebration—this is the time to fight. The battle against BJP’s authoritarianism will continue.” The ECI has declared her the winner from the Kalkaji seat, where she was pitted against the BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Alka Lamba of the Congress.
Taking to X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: “Development wins, good governance triumphs,” and added that his party would leave “no stone unturned” in developing Delhi. In the first State Assembly election of the year, the stakes were high for all contenders—the BJP, the AAP, and the Congress. The AAP has governed Delhi since 2013, with voters backing its strong record of welfare politics. But recent scandals and corruption charges involving its leaders, particularly party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, have dented the party’s image.
Speaking about the AAP’s electoral setback, the activist Anna Hazare (once a mentor to Arvind Kejriwal) said the party “drowned” due to the liquor policy and its focus on money. In a jibe at Kejriwal, he further said a candidate’s character should be clean and he should know the virtues of sacrifice.
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