February 8, 2025: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has surged ahead of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in early leads as counting for the Delhi Assembly elections began today. The closely watched election, in which AAP is vying for a fourth consecutive term, has seen a dramatic start with fluctuating leads.

At 8:30 am, Arvind Kejriwal's AAP initially gained an edge, but the BJP quickly made a comeback, establishing a lead in what appears to be a neck-and-neck battle. Meanwhile, the Congress, which was predicted to face another electoral setback, has managed to secure a lead in one seat.

The AAP, which first came to power in Delhi in 2013 with 28 seats, saw a short-lived government of just 49 days. However, in 2015, the party made a historic comeback, securing 67 out of 70 seats. In the 2020 elections, AAP continued its dominance by winning 62 seats.

Despite the early setback, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi exuded confidence in her party’s prospects, asserting that the people of Delhi would continue to support AAP’s governance and re-elect Kejriwal with a strong mandate.

"This has not been an ordinary election; it has been a fight between good and evil, a fight between work and hooliganism," she stated, expressing optimism that voters would back AAP’s development agenda.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, who is contesting against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency, remained uncertain about a potential post-poll alliance with AAP, saying the decision rests with the party high command.

The elections mark another critical political battle for Delhi, with the BJP aiming to end AAP’s decade-long rule and make a return to power after over two decades. The Congress, which ruled Delhi until 2013, is struggling to reclaim lost ground.

As the counting progresses, all eyes will be on whether AAP can stage a comeback or if BJP will end its long wait for power in the national capital.