Delhi assembly election 2025: Arvind Kejriwal of AAP leading against BJP's Parvesh Verma in New Delhi seat

In the 2025 Delhi assembly election, Arvind Kejriwal fought for survival following his resignation and imprisonment over corruption allegations.

Updated on: Feb 8, 2025, 10:06:10 IST

By HT News Desk

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Delhi assembly election 2025: Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party is leading in early trends against his closest rival Parvesh Verma of the Bharatiya Janata Party from the New Delhi seat in the Delhi assembly election.

AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal offers prayers at the Hanuman temple near Connaught Place. ((@ArvindKejriwal/X))

Arvind Kejriwal was trailing against the BJP candidates in the first two hours of counting of votes. Kejriwal was leading by a margin of 254 votes, the Election Commission data showed at 10.05pm.

The Election Commission is counting votes for the Delhi poll 2025 on Saturday, February 8.

For Arvind Kejriwal, the 2025 Delhi assembly election isn’t just another poll; it's the biggest fight for his survival. After resigning as chief minister in September 2024, fresh out of jail, he called this election a battle between political dynasties and the common man. He contested from the New Delhi seat, hoping for a comeback. Follow Delhi election result live updates

Born on August 16, 1968, in Haryana, Arvind Kejriwal started as a mechanical engineer from IIT Kharagpur before joining the Indian Revenue Service. But bureaucracy wasn’t enough for him—he wanted to change the system.

Follow New Delhi election result live updates

Arvind Kejriwal’s political journey has always been full of twists. His RTI activism won him the Ramon Magsaysay Award in 2006, but he wanted to change the system from within. In 2012, he took the plunge, launching the Aam Aadmi Party or AAP and shaking up Indian politics.

Arvind Kejriwal's entry into politics

His entry into Delhi’s power corridors was nothing short of sensational. In 2013, Arvind Kejriwal defeated three-time chief minister Sheila Dikshit of the Congress, only to quit after 49 days. But he bounced back in 2015, winning 67 out of 70 seats, and did it again in 2020 with 62 seats. His governance model—free electricity, better schools, mohalla clinics—made him a household name.

Then came March 2024. Kejriwal was arrested over alleged corruption in Delhi’s liquor policy, making him the first sitting chief minister to go to jail. The AAP called it a political conspiracy, but the case hurt his image. After spending six months behind bars, the Supreme Court granted him bail. Days later, he resigned, passing the baton to education minister Atishi.

In the 2025 poll, Kejriwal banked on public sympathy and his track record.

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HT News Desk
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