New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are locked in a tight contest as counting for the Delhi Assembly elections began this morning. Early trends suggest a surprising setback for the AAP, with several of its top leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and current Delhi CM Atishi, trailing in their respective constituencies.
According to initial results, Arvind Kejriwal, who is seeking re-election from the prestigious New Delhi constituency, is trailing behind BJP candidate Parvesh Verma. This development has raised concerns for the AAP, which has been confident of securing a fourth consecutive term in the capital.
Similarly, Manish Sisodia, a key figure in the AAP government and former education minister, is trailing from Jangpura, where BJP’s candidate has gained an early lead. Sisodia, who was instrumental in shaping Delhi’s education policies, is facing a tough battle after his name was linked to various controversies in the past year.
Adding to AAP’s troubles, Chief Minister Atishi, who is contesting from Kalkaji, is also trailing behind BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri. Atishi has been a strong advocate for education and women’s welfare, making this a critical contest for the party.
The AAP leadership, however, remains optimistic. Senior party leaders have stated that early trends often change as counting progresses and that they are hopeful of turning the tide in their favor.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders have expressed confidence that they will end AAP’s decade-long rule in Delhi. The party, which has been aggressively campaigning against Kejriwal’s governance, sees this as an opportunity to establish its presence in the national capital.