New Delhi, February 9 – The Congress Party faced a major blow in the Delhi Assembly elections as 67 of its 70 candidates lost their deposits, marking a significant electoral debacle for the party. With results announced on Saturday following the February 5 polling, the Congress failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive time in the national capital.
A staggering 80% of all candidates, including independents, lost their deposits in this election. Out of 699 contestants, 555 failed to secure the minimum required votes to retain their deposits. However, all candidates from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and its allies JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas) managed to save their deposits.
Once a dominant force in Delhi, the Congress Party ruled the capital for 15 consecutive years until 2013 but has been unable to regain its footing since. Among its 70 candidates, only three—Abhishek Dutt (Kasturba Nagar), Rohit Chaudhary (Nangloi Jat), and Devendra Yadav (Badli)—managed to secure enough votes to retain their deposits.
Meanwhile, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), which fielded two candidates, saw Shifa-Ur-Rehman Khan (Okhla) as the sole contestant to retain his deposit.
Understanding the Deposit Rule
Under the Representation of the People Act, 1951, candidates from the general category must deposit ₹10,000 with the Election Commission, while SC/ST candidates deposit ₹5,000. If a candidate fails to secure at least one-sixth (16.67%) of the total valid votes polled, the deposit is forfeited.
BJP Sweeps Delhi After 26 Years
In a historic shift, the BJP is set to return to power in Delhi after 26 years, securing 48 of the 70 seats, while AAP won only 22. The election outcome marks a decisive mandate against Arvind Kejriwal’s government, significantly altering Delhi's political landscape.
