The counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, deciding whether the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retains power for a third consecutive term or if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) returns to governance in the national capital after 27 years. The Congress, which failed to secure a single seat in the last two elections, is also aiming for a revival.
The counting process will begin at 8 am across 19 counting stations spread across 11 districts of the city. Shahdara, Central Delhi, East, South, and Southwest districts will each have one counting centre, while North, West, Northeast, and Southeast districts will have two each. The New Delhi and Northwest districts will have three counting stations each.
ACB Notice To Arvind Kejriwal On Delhi Election Result Eve
On the eve of the results, high political drama unfolded outside AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal’s residence as a team from the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) arrived seeking details regarding his allegations that the BJP attempted to poach AAP candidates. Kejriwal did not meet the officials at his 5, Ferozeshah Road bungalow, following which they served him a legal notice seeking proof of his claims. This development comes after Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena ordered an ACB probe into the matter.
Kejriwal accused the Election Commission of refusing to upload Form 17C, which records the number of votes polled per booth, on its website. The Election Commission denied the charge, stating that all procedures had been followed.
Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) R. Alice Vaz clarified that under Rule 49S of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, all presiding officers had provided Form 17C copies to polling agents on polling day. The Commission also stated that a scrutiny of election documents from all 70 constituencies had been conducted, and since no candidates raised complaints, there was no need for a repoll.
Delhi Election Results 2025: AAP, BJP Exude Confidence Of Victory
Both the BJP and AAP exuded confidence in forming the next government. AAP’s Gopal Rai predicted that his party would win more than 50 seats based on internal ground reports. “Under Kejriwal’s guidance, all candidates presented their reports, indicating that AAP is set to win over 50 seats decisively, with a close contest in seven-eight seats,” Rai said. He dismissed exit polls favouring the BJP as an attempt to mislead the public.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, however, asserted that the saffron party would win 52-56 seats. “Today, AAP is preparing excuses for their defeat. They claimed their MLA Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat received a call, but Mukesh himself has called that number twice. The biggest reason for AAP’s defeat is its lies. People are fed up,” Sirsa told ANI.
Delhi Election Results 2025: Exit Polls Gave BJP Edge Over AAP
Several exit polls have predicted an advantage for the BJP over AAP, which has governed Delhi since 2015. However, AAP has rejected these projections, maintaining that Kejriwal will return as chief minister.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva expressed confidence that his party would secure nearly 50 seats. The BJP has also demanded that AAP withdraw its allegations of poaching and issue an apology or face legal action. BJP general secretary Vishnu Mittal has written to the Lt Governor requesting an ACB probe into AAP’s accusations.
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Meanwhile, security has been heightened at all counting centres. Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Alice Vaz stated that 5,000 personnel, including counting supervisors, counting assistants, micro-observers, and supporting staff, have been deployed for the counting process. A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place, with 10,000 police personnel, including two paramilitary companies stationed at each counting centre. ALSO READ | Three-Tier Security Arrangement In Delhi For Election Results With 10,000 Policemen, 2 Paramilitary Companies
Special Commissioner of Police Devesh Chandra Srivastava, addressing a press conference, said, “We have made robust security arrangements for counting day. Only authorised personnel will be allowed inside the counting centres, where the use of mobile phones will be strictly prohibited.”
“Three-layered security is deployed outside the strong rooms. We have identified the sensitive spots and we are planning flag marches in those areas to give a message that sufficient force is available and we are committed to maintaining peace in the area…There will be some restrictions on the movement of vehicles around the areas of the counting centres,” DCP West Delhi Vichitra Veer told ANI.
Delhi Election Result 2025: Allegations Of Electoral Malpractice
AAP and BJP had exchanged allegations of voting malpractices during polling. Tensions erupted in Seelampur after a BJP leader alleged that individuals wearing burqas were attempting fraudulent voting. However, Delhi Police refuted the claim, stating that no such incident had occurred. AAP workers responded with slogan-shouting, leading to additional police and paramilitary deployment.
AAP’s Manish Sisodia accused the BJP of distributing money from a house in Jangpura, sharing a video on X. However, Delhi Police’s DCP (Southeast) Ankit Chauhan stated that allegations of voter bribery in Sarai Kale Khan were investigated, but no evidence was found.
Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit alleged that both BJP and AAP engaged in bribing voters. “We saw BJP workers distributing money. Two AAP volunteers were also caught today. The scale on which it happened this time is unprecedented,” Dikshit told ANI.
Delhi Election Result 2025: Past Election Performance And Voter Turnout
The majority mark in the 70-member Assembly is 36. In 2020, AAP won 62 seats, while the BJP secured eight. In 2015, AAP had a landslide victory with 67 seats and a 54.6 per cent vote share.
In the May 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 54 per cent of the vote share across all 70 Assembly segments. The Congress outperformed AAP, garnering 24 per cent compared to AAP’s 19 per cent.
The voter turnout for the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections stood at 60.42 per cent, lower than the 62.82 per cent in 2020 and significantly below the 67.47 per cent recorded in 2015.
A victory for AAP will cement Kejriwal’s stronghold over Delhi’s political landscape and boost his stature nationally. However, if the BJP secures a win, it will mark its return to power in Delhi after 27 years, breaking AAP’s decade-long dominance. The Congress, which ruled the capital for 15 years until 2013, is hoping for a political comeback after successive electoral setbacks.
