NEW DELHI: With the political temperature in Delhi on a boil, the 2025 Delhi Assembly Elections are all set to be an important event in Indian politics. Scheduled for February 5, 2025, with the results announced on February 8, this election will decide the fate of the 70-member Delhi Legislative Assembly. A party needs to secure 36 seats to claim a majority, and the stakes have never been higher.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the helm, is set to achieve history by winning for the third term in a row. In the 2020 elections, AAP had won a spectacular victory with 62 of the 70 seats, further cementing their position as a major force in Delhi politics. Kejriwal’s government has been very active in providing welfare schemes to the people through education reforms, healthcare initiatives, and infrastructure development, which has gained massive popularity among the masses.
However, as election time draws near, challenges that AAP faces might make the way towards winning much more complicated. There is brewing anti-incumbency sentiments among some electorates who feel AAP has made immense strides in governance, yet issues such as pollution and traffic congestion continue to fester. Its voter sentiment will also be influenced by allegations against some party members of corruption.
The BJP is expecting to recapture the capital city after spending years in the opposition. The party has not ceased to criticise AAP’s governance and is making much of the recent success in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, which was held recently, in which it swept seven parliamentary seats from Delhi. Parvesh Singh Verma is the BJP candidate for Chief Minister whom rumour suggests is known for his sharp rhetoric against AAP.
Meanwhile, the Indian National Congress, which has failed to regain relevance in Delhi politics, is putting up former MP Sandeep Dikshit as its CM candidate. The Congress party will try to bank on any disaffection with AAP and traditional Congress voters. But it is an uphill task as it tries to rebuild its base in a city that has increasingly leaned towards AAP and BJP.
Recent surveys show mixed voter sentiment. Many appreciate AAP’s governance and social welfare initiatives, but others are frustrated with the persistent issues of pollution and inefficiencies in public transport. Moreover, younger voters are becoming more active and may be inclined towards candidates who take a more aggressive stance on climate change and urban development.
The Delhi Assembly Elections are not just who would be the next Chief Minister, but a defining moment for political parties in one of India’s most vibrant capitals. With AAP aiming at maintaining its stronghold with an increasingly resurgent BJP and an ambitious Congress, the outcome will likely depend on how well each party addresses voter concerns and capitalizes on their strengths.
As we await the election results on February 8, 2025, one thing remains clear: the battle for Delhi is set to be fierce and closely contested, with implications that could resonate far beyond the city’s borders. Voter engagement will be key—whoever mobilizes their base effectively could very well emerge victorious in this high-stakes political showdown.
( Article compiled by: Aryan Vij Student of Journalism (JCC), New Delhi )
