As the vote counting for the Delhi Assembly elections continues, early trends indicate a fierce contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). According to exit polls, the BJP has taken a strong lead in 47 seats, while AAP is trailing in 24. The Congress, which once ruled Delhi for 15 years, has been completely sidelined, failing to make an impact in any constituency.

Congress initially showed some promise in Badli, where Devender Yadav was leading. However, as the counting progressed, the party lost its grip, with AAP’s Ajesh Yadav and BJP’s Deepak Chaudhary surpassing Yadav. Congress’ poor performance aligns with exit poll predictions, marking its third consecutive election without a significant presence in Delhi politics.

Congress Leaders React to Setback

As the results unfolded, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra stated that she had not checked the results yet, indicating the uncertainty within the party. The Wayanad MP added that it was clear from meetings that the public desired change, and they voted accordingly. She congratulated the winners and emphasised that for the rest of the party, it meant working harder, staying connected with the people, and addressing their concerns effectively.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Vishesh Tokas remained optimistic, claiming the party would play a crucial role as a “kingmaker” in government formation. Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit conceded defeat, stating, “It looks like the BJP will form the government. We raised key issues, but people did not believe we could win.”

With the BJP leading in 41 seats, the party is just five seats short of the 36 needed for a majority. AAP, leading in 28 seats, is still in the race but faces an uphill battle to secure a third consecutive term.

Congress’ Political Decline in Delhi

The 2025 Delhi election marks the fourth consecutive defeat for Congress in the national capital. Despite extensive campaigning by top leaders such as Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party has been unable to regain its lost ground. Since its last electoral success in 2013, when it won eight seats, Congress has suffered a steady decline in vote share.

Winners and Losers

The Election Commission has declared several key results:

AAP’s Virender Singh Kadian won the Delhi Cantt seat by 2,029 votes.

BJP’s Rekha Gupta claimed victory in Shalimar Bagh, defeating AAP by 29,595 votes.

AAP’s Kuldeep Kumar secured Kondli, winning by 6,293 votes.

BJP’s Manjinder Singh Sirsa won Rajouri Garden by 18,190 votes.

The latest Election Commission trends indicate that the BJP is poised to form a government in Delhi for the first time since 1998. With the party leading in 45 of the 70 assembly seats and AAP ahead in 21, the results mark a significant political shift in the national capital.