India’s prime minister, Modi, is expected to win a capital election after 27 years out of office

Despite a disappointing national election last year, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party appeared poised to regain control of the nation’s capital for the first time in 27 years on Saturday. This development represents a significant victory for the Hindu-nationalist leader.

The Election Commission of India’s data indicated that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party was dominant in 48 of the 70 seats in the Delhi capital district, surpassing the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of Arvind Kejriwal, who is a vocal opponent of Modi, in 22 seats.

Delhi was the first electoral victory for AAP, which emerged from an anti-corruption movement in 2012. Since 2015, the party has governed the territory, which encompasses India’s parliament and federal government agencies in New Delhi, for two terms.

An anti-corruption crusader-turned-politician, Kejriwal, 55, was detained on graft allegations weeks before the general election began last year. He has accused the Modi government of a political vendetta. The BJP refutes his assertions.

Kejriwal, who was released on parole and resigned as Delhi chief minister to concentrate on the state election campaign, subsequently lost the seat he was running for.

AAP’s popularity was based on its generous policies, which included providing free water and electricity to its primary voter base, the impoverished, which resulted in its victory in the previous two elections with a resounding majority.

To counteract AAP, the BJP pledged to provide monthly payments of 2,500 Indian rupees ($28) to all impoverished women, a one-time payment of 21,000 rupees to each expectant woman, subsidized heating gas, a monthly pension of 2,500 rupees for the elderly, and 15,000 rupees to the youth to prepare for competitive exams.

Despite losing his majority in India’s parliament last year, Modi was able to secure a record-equaling third term as prime minister with the backing of regional parties. Three of the four succeeding state elections have been won by his BJP.

The upper house of parliament is a critical component of decision-making, and political parties are able to increase their representation in the chamber through state election victories.