Delhi CM Race: Leaders begin day with temple visits

As Delhi waits for the next Chief Minister, political leaders across parties began their day by visiting temples to seek blessings before the Assembly election results.

BJP candidate Parvesh Verma from New Delhi assembly constituency was at the Hanuman Temple in Connaught Place before the results were out.

The New Delhi seat has a three way contest with Arvind Kejriwal of AAP and Sandeep Dikshit of Congress.

Congress candidate Alka Lamba from Kalkaji Assembly seat was at the Kalka Ji temple before the counting started.

AAP candidate Saurabh Bharadwaj from Greater Kailash was also at the Kalkaji temple to seek blessings.

BJP candidate Kailash Gahlot from Bijwasan Assembly was at a temple first, took blessings and said this time a BJP government will come in Delhi as people have voted for change.

Congress State President Devender Yadav also visited a temple before the counting started, as it is a common practice among political leaders to seek divine intervention in these moments.

Just before the counting was to start, BJP candidate Ajay Mahawar from Ghonda Assembly along with his wife Seema Mahawar visited the Shiv Mandir in Yamuna Vihar to pray to Lord Shiva and seek his blessings.

BJP MLA candidate Satish Upadhyay from Malviya Nagar was at the Hanuman temple in Green Park as he waited for the results.

BJP candidate Dushyant Gautam from Karol Bagh was at the Jhandewalan Temple.

BJP candidate Raaj Kumar Anand from Patel Nagar was at the Karol Bagh Hanuman Mandir before he headed to the counting centre.

BJP candidate Shikha Rai from Greater Kailash Assembly was at the Kalkaji temple today as results were to be declared.BJP candidate Anil Sharma from RK Puram Assembly constituency also was at the Kalkaji Temple. After his visit he told media, "I visit Kalkaji Temple daily, not only today being counting day. I am sure Mata Rani will bless us and Lotus will bloom in Delhi."

Delhi election result to be declared today will decide whether Arvind Kejriwal's AAP will retain its hold and form the government for the fourth time or if BJP will come back in Delhi after nearly three decades.

Counting of votes began at 8 am across all 70 Assembly constituencies with exit polls giving an edge to the BJP over the incumbent AAP which has been in power since 2015. According to exit polls, the BJP is likely to win 45-55 seats while the ruling AAP will face a big loss.

Meanwhile, the Congress which was blank in the last two elections is expected to win one seat.

For the 2025 Delhi Assembly election the main contenders are AAP, BJP and Congress. In New Delhi constituency, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of AAP is contesting against former West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh of BJP and former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit.

In Kalkaji, Chief Minister Atishi of AAP is contesting against former South Delhi BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress’ Alka Lamba.

In Malviya Nagar, AAP’s Somnath Bharti is pitted against BJP’s Satish Upadhyay and Congress’ Jitendra Kumar Kochar. In Patparganj – a stronghold of AAP’s Manish Sisodia – AAP has fielded Awadh Ojha as its candidate against BJP’s Ravinder Singh Negi and Congress’ Anil Chaudhary.

With voting already done and exit polls favouring a BJP surge, the Delhi election is going to be a big contest that can change the political landscape of the city.

The outcome will be known on Saturday, will the AAP continue to rule or is a big change in store.