2 months ago
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Control of the assembly in New Delhi seems likely to change hands, in an election that has showcased the cutthroat nature of Indian politics.
Feb. 8, 2025, 1:56 a.m. ET
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s national ruling party appeared poised to win an important regional election in India’s capital where voters had rejected Mr. Modi’s Hindu-first platform for nearly three decades even as it was expanding its footprint elsewhere across the vast country.
Early results on Saturday in elections for New Delhi’s regional assembly suggested that the Bharatiya Janata Party was on track to have more seats than the Aam Aadmi Party. Aam Aadmi, a small party, has governed the capital area for the past decade, though it has increasingly struggled against Mr. Modi’s efforts to crush it.
The political fight over who governs the capital region has come to epitomize the cutthroat nature of Indian politics.
Mudslinging rival parties have been competing for votes with handouts as well as with pressure tactics that include A.I.-heavy disinformation campaigns and outright jailings of politicians.
Meanwhile, delivery of basic government services for a region of more than 20 million people appears increasingly paralyzed.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Suhasini Raj is a reporter based in New Delhi who has covered India for The Times since 2014. More about Suhasini Raj
Mujib Mashal is the South Asia bureau chief for The Times, helping to lead coverage of India and the diverse region around it, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. More about Mujib Mashal
