As the counting of votes for the high-stakes Delhi Assembly elections begins on Saturday, BJP MP Jagdambika Pal has predicted that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, her predecessor Arvind Kejriwal, and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia will face defeat.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a determined effort to reclaim power after over two decades. Exit polls released earlier this week have largely given the BJP an edge over AAP. However, AAP leaders have dismissed these predictions, asserting that exit polls have historically underestimated their party’s performance and expressed confidence in returning to power.
Atishi, who is contesting from the Kalkaji seat, faces a challenge from BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress’s Alka Lamba. Arvind Kejriwal is up against BJP candidate Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit. Meanwhile, Manish Sisodia is contesting from the Jangpura assembly constituency.
Jagdambika Pal stated that this election could mark the first time in history that a sitting Chief Minister (Atishi), a former Chief Minister (Arvind Kejriwal), and a former Deputy Chief Minister (Manish Sisodia) all lose their seats.
“…Tomorrow (Saturday) is the result day… Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi CM Atishi, and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia are going to lose the elections. I have been there during the campaigns for the Delhi Assembly elections. Arvind Kejriwal has made records of corruption. Now, this is going to be the first time the former CM, former Deputy CM, and current CM are going to lose the elections,” Pal told reporters on Friday.
Pal also dismissed allegations that the BJP was attempting to poach AAP candidates ahead of the results.
“No one is going to call their MLAs. They are making allegations due to their disappointment. They have accepted their defeat,” he said.
Polling for the 70-member legislative assembly took place on February 8.
The Congress party, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has struggled in recent elections, failing to win any seats in the last two assembly polls. In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, AAP dominated by securing 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP managed to win only eight.