As Delhi gears up for the official election results on February 8, the latest exit polls have presented a mixed bag of forecasts for the Delhi Assembly elections, where the BJP and AAP are in a close race for supremacy. While several polls predict a victory for the BJP, others indicate a potential win for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Congress, as expected, seems unlikely to make any significant gains compared to the 2020 elections.
BJP vs. AAP: The Rival Predictions
Among the numerous exit polls conducted, the majority favor the BJP in a tight contest with AAP. The People’s Pulse exit poll projects a sweeping win for the BJP-led NDA, giving them between 51 to 60 seats, with AAP trailing behind at just 10-19 seats. Notably, it foresees Congress failing to secure any seats. Other polls like People’s Insight and P-Marq also predict a strong BJP presence, with estimates of 40-44 seats for the BJP and a smaller 21-31 seats for AAP.
On the contrary, two exit polls suggest an AAP victory. The WeePreside poll indicates a significant win for AAP, predicting 46-52 seats, while the Mind Brink Media poll also shows AAP winning with 44-49 seats, leaving the BJP far behind at 18-23 seats. Both surveys suggest Congress will once again fail to gain a foothold in the Delhi Assembly.
A Close Contest in the Middle Ground
Several other exit polls predict a more balanced outcome. For instance, the Matrize exit poll forecasts a close contest with BJP securing 35-40 seats and AAP grabbing 32-37 seats. The JVC poll also indicates a tight race, predicting 39-45 seats for the BJP, with AAP managing 22-31 seats.
The DV Research poll is slightly more conservative, projecting the BJP to win 36-44 seats, with AAP securing 26-34 seats. All exit polls agree on Congress’s poor performance, estimating 0-2 seats in almost every prediction.
Factors to Watch in the Official Results
The Delhi Assembly consists of 70 seats, with a majority requiring 36. Currently, AAP holds a dominant 62 seats, while the BJP has 8 seats, and Congress is absent from the Assembly. Voter turnout in this high-stakes election was reported at 58% until 5 pm on polling day, reflecting widespread engagement.
While exit polls often prove to be inaccurate, the 2020 Delhi elections saw a significant divergence between projections and the actual results, where AAP emerged victorious despite predictions to the contrary. As such, the actual outcome will depend on several factors, including voter sentiment and last-minute shifts.
Reactions from Political Leaders
In response to the exit polls, AAP leaders have dismissed the predictions, maintaining confidence in their chances for re-election, while BJP leaders are optimistic, citing the exit poll trends as an indication of their impending victory.
With just a few days left until the official results are declared, all eyes are on the final tally. Will the BJP succeed in breaking AAP’s stronghold on the Delhi Assembly, or will the AAP continue to dominate the political landscape? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—the election results will have a significant impact on the future political dynamics of Delhi.
Stay tuned as we await the final count on February 8.
