Hours before the results, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) called a meeting of all its 70 candidates on Friday, according to reports. The meeting will be chaired by AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
The meeting is slated to be held at AAP headquarters at 11:30 am. Interestingly, the meeting comes as AAP accuses the BJP of attempting to poach its legislators. Kejriwal claims AAP candidates were offered 15 crore to join BJP, a charge denied by BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva.
AAP candidate from Sultanpur Majra and Delhi minister Mukesh Ahlawat claimed they were approached with such an offer. Ahlawar said he was offered Rs 15 crore, but declined it as he respected Kejriwal and the AAP.
However, sources claim there are concerns within the party that many MLAs might jump ship.
#WATCH | On Arvind Kejriwal's allegations of horse-trading attempts, ahead of the #DelhiElection2025 results tomorrow, party's Chief National Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "BJP thinks that it can negotiate with our leaders & ministers by creating an atmosphere through fake… pic.twitter.com/v708nuWSRe
— ANI (@ANI) February 7, 2025
The meeting also comes amid exit polls which are also not favourable for the AAP. It is also to be seen whether AAP would think of joining hands with the Congress. Though Kejriwal has not yet stated anything about such a move, Congress leader K C Venugopal evaded the question, stating that he does not trust exit polls and any move will be made only after the results come.
But, the exit poll predictions that Congress might get 8.5 to 9 per cent votes can be significant. Analysts believe that Congress gaining votes can be detrimental to the BJP, contrary to popular perception. The election results in 2015 and 2020 proved that in seats where Congress got votes, AAP managed to win.
Exit poll figures also hint that BJP has received close to 50 per cent votes in Muslim and Dalit areas. It has to be seen how a division among the Muslim votes will impact the prospects of AAP.
The meeting is also crucial as the party's future will be at stake if it loses as per exit poll predictions. Since AAP is a party which has a presence in two states - Delhi and Punjab- losing Delhi can be a big blow, especially since it was launched here.
This is a personal litmus test for Kejriwal too as he is still on bail in the excise policy case. The party was formed without an ideology like BJP, Congress, SP and Communist Party. So, naturally, without power, its existence itself will be at stake without an ideology.
