The BJP is all set to form a government in Delhi, while a setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, predicted exit polls on Wednesday.

The 2025 Delhi Assembly election delivered a shocking twist, according to exit polls, with the BJP projected to make significant gains in the capital. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, is predicted to suffer a dramatic decline, potentially losing as many as 31 seats compared to its landslide victory in 2020.

The BJP is forecast to secure between 39 and 49 seats, marking a remarkable turnaround in a city where AAP has dominated for nearly a decade. Meanwhile, AAP, which had hoped for a third consecutive term after near-sweeps in 2015 and 2020, is expected to win only 21 to 31 seats.

In a surprising development, the Congress party, which has struggled to regain its footing in Delhi since Sheila Dikshit’s era, is predicted to win 1-2 seats, potentially ending its decade-long drought in the capital.

Voting for the 70 Assembly constituencies across Delhi’s 11 districts concluded on Wednesday, February 5, at 6 pm. The results of this high-stakes three-way contest between AAP, BJP, and Congress will be announced on February 8, when the votes are counted.

As of 5 p.m., the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi reported that voter turnout has surged to 57.70%. Mustafabad saw the highest participation, achieving a turnout of 66.68%. In contrast, Karol Bagh AC experienced the lowest turnout at 47.5%.

Notably, Delhi Cantonment, which had the lowest voter turnout in the previous elections of 2020 and 2015, has reached a turnout of 57%.

The exit poll predictions, if accurate, signal a seismic shift in Delhi’s political landscape, with the BJP poised to reclaim dominance and AAP facing its most significant electoral challenge yet. For Congress, the results could mark a small but symbolic step toward rebuilding its presence in the city.

As the countdown to the results begins, all eyes are on whether the exit polls will hold true or if Delhi’s voters have another surprise in store.

The Delhi Assembly election 2025 witnessed a surge in voter participation as the polling process continued across the national capital on a single day. By 3 p.m., voter turnout stood at 46.55%, with the highest turnout reported in Mustafabad at 56.12%, while Karol Bagh saw the lowest at 39.05%.

Polling for the Delhi Assembly elections, which began this morning, is crucial as more than 1.56 crore eligible voters will decide the fate of candidates across 70 constituencies. A total of 13,766 polling stations have been set up at 2,696 locations across the city to facilitate smooth voting.

As part of the electoral process, a paid holiday has been declared for both government and private sector employees. Additionally, neighbouring states Uttar Pradesh and Haryana have also granted paid holidays due to the election proceedings in Delhi.

In comparison to previous elections, voter turnout so far appears promising, although it is still short of the 62.59% turnout recorded in the 2020 Assembly polls. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, only 56% of Delhi voters participated.

Polling is expected to continue until 6 p.m., and all eyes are on the turnout numbers as they could be pivotal in shaping the election’s outcome. Of the 699 candidates vying for seats, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have each fielded 70 candidates, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded 68 candidates, with its allies — JD(U) and LJP — receiving two seats each.

In the high-profile New Delhi constituency, where AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal is contesting to retain his seat, BJP and Congress have fielded Parvesh Sahib Singh and Sandeep Dikshit, sons of former Chief Ministers, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party has staged a protest in Jangpura Assembly constituency, alleging that money was being distributed to influence voters.

A US military aircraft recently landed at Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport in Amritsar, Punjab, carrying 205 undocumented migrants from India. Among those deported were 25 women and 13 children, as per the report. The C-17 military plane transported individuals primarily from Punjab and other Indian states, including Gujarat.

Many of these migrants had entered the United States through illegal means, often referred to as “donkey routes,” and had invested substantial amounts of money, sometimes in the lakhs of rupees, to make that journey. Unfortunately, they are now facing deportation after being identified as undocumented immigrants in the US. The aircraft took off from Texas on Monday night (local time), marking a significant development in the ongoing discussions around immigration and deportation.

Former US President Donald Trump has been vocal about his administration’s commitment to what he dubbed the largest deportation effort in American history, aiming to address a population of approximately 11 million undocumented migrants. This initiative is part of his broader, strict immigration policies.

In recent months, reports have emerged indicating that India has agreed to repatriate its citizens who are living illegally in the United States. During his election campaign, Trump consistently emphasized the need for a crackdown on illegal immigration.

In fact, after a phone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his inauguration, Trump stated his belief that Modi “will do what’s right” in terms of accepting back illegal Indian immigrants from America. According to estimates from Bloomberg News, around 18,000 Indians in the US have been identified as undocumented migrants.

Furthermore, US authorities plan to deport illegal migrants from key locations such as El Paso, Texas, and San Diego, California. The Trump administration initiated military deportation flights last week under an emergency declaration on immigration, with six planeloads of migrants already sent back to Latin America, signifying a notable escalation in deportation efforts.