NEW DELHI (AP) – Vote counting commenced early Saturday for the pivotal state legislature election in India’s federal territory, including New Delhi. Television exit polls forecast a victory for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Approximately 60% of over 15 million eligible voters participated in the election held on Wednesday, showcasing a significant level of engagement among the electorate. The exit polls projected the BJP as likely to secure a majority in the 70-member assembly, positioning them against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, which currently governs New Delhi and has garnered substantial support for its welfare initiatives and anti-corruption stance.
Initial counting trends indicated that the BJP was leading in over 40 seats, a notable resurgence for a party that has not held power in the national capital for more than 25 years. Despite the BJP’s encouraging early results, it is important to note that exit polls in India often have inconsistent accuracy due to the country's diverse voting demographics.
In the previous year's national election, the BJP was unable to secure a majority on its own but was able to form a government with coalition partners. The party has regained some ground by winning recent state elections in northern Haryana and western Maharashtra.
Both Modi and Kejriwal outlined ambitious proposals leading up to this election, promising significant reforms in government schools, enhanced health services, and the provision of free electricity. They also pledged monthly stipends exceeding 2,000 rupees (approximately $25) for impoverished women, aiming to attract lower-income voters.
The BJP is hopeful that recent federal budget cuts in income tax targeting the salaried middle class—a crucial voter base for the party—will further bolster their chances. The AAP had achieved a remarkable victory in the last state legislature election in 2020, winning 62 out of 70 seats, leaving the BJP with a mere eight and the Congress party with none.
The BJP was previously ousted from power in Delhi in 1998 by the Congress party, which subsequently governed for 15 years. The ongoing counting will reveal if the BJP can reclaim its position in the capital after decades of political absence.
As the results unfold, the atmosphere around counting centers remains charged, with BJP supporters celebrating early leads and AAP supporters anxiously awaiting the final outcomes. The stakes of this election extend beyond local governance, symbolizing the broader political dynamics at play in India's current political landscape.
