The BJP, reduced to just single digits in the last two Delhi Assembly elections, is likely to return to the helm in the national capital after a hiatus of 27 years, predicted a majority of exit polls on Wednesday. The predictions spell a big setback for Arvind Kejriwal, who stepped down as the Chief Minister last year amid corruption charges, and the AAP, which was eyeing a third term on the back of consecutive near-sweeps in the 2015 and 2020 polls. The Congress, down and out in Delhi since Sheila Dikshit’s ‘golden era’, has been best predicted to win 1–2 seats by the pollsters.

An average of five exit polls shows that the BJP, coming on the back of thumping victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, is likely to secure 39 seats, comfortably above the halfway mark of 36. The AAP, battling a 10-year anti-incumbency, is likely to be reduced to 30 seats.

However, past elections have shown that exit polls often get it wrong, and the numbers predicted by the pollsters must be taken with a pinch of salt.

Among the pollsters, only Mind Brink and WeePreside have suggested a return of the AAP in Delhi. While Mind Brink has given the AAP anywhere between 44–49 seats, WeePreside has predicted 46–52 seats.

Matrize, however, predicted a close contest in the national capital. It has given 35–40 seats to the BJP and 32–37 seats to the AAP.