AAP Vs BJP: On Delhi Poll Finale Eve, A Look At Who Has Closer Shot At Victory

Last Updated:February 07, 2025, 14:50 IST

AAP vs BJP Battle: While Arvind Kejriwal is fighting a prestige battle, the BJP is looking at the 2025 Assembly polls as an opportunity to end its 27-year drought in Delhi with a return to power.

AAP vs BJP Delhi Election 2025: Delhi Assembly poll results to be out on Saturday (PTI Image)

AAP vs BJP Fight in Delhi Election: The stage is set for the finale of a months-long political fight among the ruling AAP, and Opposition BJP and Congress, as the counting of votes begins for the Delhi Assembly polls on Saturday.

With pollsters giving an edge to the BJP, which fought the elections on an aggressive note bashing Arvind Kejriwal and the Delhi government, stakes are high for both AAP and the saffron party as the future of both parties could be on the line in the results.

Congress has been predicted to be out of the race for government formation in the national capital and may seal the third spot in the results tally.

On the eve of the counting of votes that will determine which party rules Delhi next, let’s take a look at some key candidates, the promises they made, and which party may have a better shot at power for the next five years.

Key Candidates In Delhi

Arvind Kejriwal:

Arvind Kejriwal, who stepped down as the Chief Minister last year after getting bail in a corruption case, had vowed to sit on the CM chair only after being given a “certificate of honesty" by the voters in Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. His future and stature in Delhi as well as in the Opposition’s INDIA bloc are also at stake as New Delhi constituency results are announced after 8 am on Saturday.

Parvesh Verma is up against Kejriwal, who has represented the New Delhi constituency since 2013 and has expressed confidence in dislodging the AAP chief from power, both in the seat and in the government. Both Kejriwal and Verma are in race against Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit, son of former CM Sheila Dikshit. However, according to a poll, the BJP is the most popular party in the constituency, which indicates that Kejriwal may lose the seat that he won thrice consecutively.

Manish Sisodia:

Former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia represented the Patparganj seat in the Assembly before being assigned a new seat to fight on – Jangpura. He is up against BJP’s Sardar Tarvinder Singh Marwah and Congress’ Farhad Suri. Stakes are high for Sisodia as he too, like Kejriwal, is fighting corruption charges in the liquor policy case.

Atishi:

Chief Minister Atishi fought again from her traditional Kalkaji seat against BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress’ Alka Lamba. If AAP manages to retain power in Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal will become the Chief Minister and not Atishi, the AAP has said during its campaign trail.

Key Promises:

The manifestos of both AAP and BJP were predominantly full of people-pleasing, populist announcements with a primary focus on youths and women.

Aam Aadmi Party

Mahila Samman Yojana to provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,100 to every woman every month.Sanjeevani Yojana aims to provide free medical services to all residents of the city above 60 years at both government and private hospitals.Waiver of inflated water billsClean drinking water 24×7 in all householdsClean Yamuna riverRoads in the city will be made as per “European standards"Free bus travel for all students – male and female and 50% concession on metro fares

Bharatiya Janata Party

Rs 2,500 to women every monthRs 500 cylinder subsidy for poor women, 1 free cylinder on every Holi and DiwaliCentre’s Ayushman Bharat Yojana to be implemented in Delhi, along with additional health cover of Rs 5,00,000 to residents of DelhiIncrease in pension for senior citizensRs 5 meal for people living in slums

AAP Or BJP: Which Party Has Better Chances Of Winning?

There are several factors such as Dalit votes, middle class, and Muslim votes that could determine the outcome of the Delhi elections.

There are 20 Dalit votes in Delhi which come mainly from slums and clusters. They have inclined towards the AAP in the past Assembly elections, however, they may see a split in the 2025 polls. If they split, the BJP is likely to benefit from the development that the saffron party would be hoping for.Delhi has 13% Muslim votes which has stood with the AAP in the last two elections – in 2015 and 2020. The community is expected to vote again for the AAP, given no strong prospects of the Congress party in Delhi where the party has failed to project any face against Kejriwal.The middle-class, which constitutes nearly 40% of voters in Delhi, can be a deciding factor in the polls. They are likely to favour the BJP in 2025 after 10 years of AAP rule during which they have complained about the poor state of infrastructure, condition of roads, and cleanliness of localities and drinking water. Moreover, the income tax exemptions up to Rs 12 lakh in Union Budget 2025-26 could be icing on the cake for the middle-class to lean completely towards the BJP.Have the people of Delhi laid their faith in the BJP to continue the public welfare schemes – some of them included freebies such as free electricity, and free bus rides for women? The AAP has alleged during campaign trail that the BJP will stop all welfare schemes if voted to power, the remark which Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought to clarify in his public rallies that no ongoing schemes will be stopped by the BJP government. Whether or not the people have confided the BJP in this regard could also be a contributing factor behind the BJP’s win or loss.While the AAP has fought the elections in the name and face of Arvind Kejriwal, the BJP kept the name a secret – a strategy that the saffron party has adopted numerous times in the past. Will the people of Delhi vote for a “double-engine sarkaar" in the name of PM Modi or will they stick to the known face of Arvind Kejriwal, who has now faced corruption allegations since his last re-election? This can well be a deciding factor behind the loss or victory of any party in Delhi.Given the exit poll predictions on Wednesday, the BJP is poised to win the elections with a majority. However, only the exact poll on Saturday will ascertain whether the saffron party, which ruled the city only once from 1993 to 1998, will be able to end the 27-year-long drought.

The counting of votes to decide the fates of political leaders in Delhi will begin at 8 am on Saturday.

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News elections AAP Vs BJP: On Delhi Poll Finale Eve, A Look At Who Has Closer Shot At Victory