Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained an early lead in the closely fought Delhi legislative assembly elections as vote counting progresses, reports UNB.
According to initial data from the Election Commission of India (EC), the BJP is ahead in 41 out of 70 seats, while the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leads in 28 constituencies. However, with counting still underway, these figures remain subject to change. A party needs at least 35 seats to secure a majority and form the government.
Exit polls conducted after Wednesday’s voting had predicted a decisive victory for the BJP, but analysts caution that such projections have often been unreliable in the past.
Winning Delhi is a high-stakes battle for both BJP and AAP, given its status as the nation’s capital. The city has been governed by AAP since 2013, with voters supporting its welfare-focused policies. However, the party is facing corruption allegations, which its leaders have denied.
For the BJP, a victory in Delhi would be a major political milestone, as the party has not been in power in the capital since 1998. Following recent electoral successes in Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, BJP has deployed top leaders, including Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, to bolster its campaign.
Meanwhile, the Congress party, once a dominant force in Delhi politics, remains on the sidelines. Ousted in 2013 amid corruption allegations, it has struggled to regain voter confidence, and projections suggest a poor showing in this election.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
