AAP’s Political Collapse: How Kejriwal’s Party Lost Delhi After 11 Years
- HEADLINESNATION
- February 8, 2025
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In a historic political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has dealt a decisive blow to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi Assembly elections, bringing an end to the latter’s 11-year rule. The once-invincible AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, suffered a crushing defeat as the BJP secured a resounding victory, capitalizing on a series of corruption allegations, governance failures, and an effective electoral strategy.
AAP, which had once positioned itself as a party of clean politics and pro-people governance, found itself battling severe anti-incumbency, corruption allegations, and a loss of public trust. The downfall of Kejriwal’s party did not happen overnight but was a result of a gradual erosion of credibility, which the BJP masterfully exploited throughout its campaign.
From ‘Mr. Clean’ to Alleged Corrupt Leader: The Fall of Kejriwal
Arvind Kejriwal, who once emerged as a symbol of honesty in Indian politics, saw his reputation take a major hit when he was arrested in connection with the Delhi excise policy scam on March 21, 2024. His close aide and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had already been arrested in the same case a year earlier, in March 2023. These arrests severely dented AAP’s carefully built image of an anti-corruption party.
Before these setbacks, AAP had secured a significant victory in the 2022 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, winning 134 out of 250 wards and proving its dominance in the capital. However, the subsequent corruption scandals shifted public sentiment, leading to growing disillusionment with Kejriwal’s governance.
Despite being in jail, Kejriwal refused to resign as Delhi’s Chief Minister, creating a political deadlock and leaving the administration in limbo. It was only in September 2024, after securing bail from the Supreme Court, that he stepped down, realizing that public support had dramatically waned. In a last-ditch effort to salvage AAP’s position, he appointed Atishi Marlena as his successor. However, this move failed to revive the party’s fortunes.
BJP’s Calculated Attack: AAP Branded as ‘Aapda’ (Crisis)
Sensing the opportunity to dethrone AAP, the BJP launched an aggressive campaign highlighting Kejriwal’s alleged corruption and his party’s governance failures. A crucial element of this strategy was branding AAP as ‘Aapda’ (meaning ‘crisis’), a term that Prime Minister Narendra Modi repeatedly used during his speeches to emphasize how the party had turned Delhi into a city plagued by problems rather than solutions.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah further fueled this narrative, reminding voters of how Kejriwal, once a proponent of simplicity, had spent an exorbitant ₹33.6 crore on the renovation of his official residence, famously dubbed the ‘Sheesh Mahal’. This contrast between AAP’s promises and its actions struck a chord with Delhi’s middle-class voters, many of whom had supported Kejriwal in previous elections.
The Impact of the Lok Sabha Elections: AAP’s Waning Influence
AAP’s downfall was first evident in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when all four of its candidates in Delhi—West Delhi, South Delhi, New Delhi, and East Delhi—faced humiliating defeats. The Congress, which had contested three seats as part of the INDIA alliance, also failed to secure any victory.
The failure of the INDIA bloc in Delhi led to a bitter split between AAP and Congress ahead of the Assembly elections, with both parties deciding to contest separately. This division worked in BJP’s favor, allowing it to consolidate its voter base while AAP and Congress weakened each other by splitting the opposition vote.
BJP’s Strategy: Countering AAP’s Freebies with ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’
AAP had long relied on welfare schemes, such as free electricity up to 200 units, mohalla clinics, and free water supply, to secure voter loyalty. However, BJP neutralized this advantage by launching its own set of populist measures under the ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ campaign.
While AAP promised to deposit ₹2,100 per month into the bank accounts of women from poor families under ‘Kejriwal Ki Guarantee’, the BJP countered it by offering ₹2,500 per month under ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’. This strategic move reassured voters that electing BJP would not mean the end of welfare benefits but rather an enhancement of them.
Additionally, the Union Budget—announced during the election campaign—provided tax relief for individuals earning up to ₹12.75 lakh per year, further cementing BJP’s appeal among Delhi’s middle class, which comprises nearly 50% of the population.
The Anti-Incumbency Wave and Voter Sentiment
After ruling Delhi for over a decade, AAP found itself grappling with severe anti-incumbency. Public grievances over governance, combined with corruption allegations, fueled voter dissatisfaction. The BJP capitalized on this sentiment, positioning itself as the only viable alternative that could provide effective leadership.
Throughout the campaign, Modi and Shah assured Delhi’s electorate that a BJP government would not discontinue existing welfare schemes while also focusing on infrastructural and economic development. This dual approach—addressing concerns of the poor while appealing to the middle class—proved to be a masterstroke in securing BJP’s resounding victory.
The Road Ahead: What This Victory Means for BJP and AAP
With this landslide win, BJP has not only reclaimed Delhi after 27 years but has also significantly weakened AAP’s influence in national politics. The defeat raises serious questions about Kejriwal’s political future and AAP’s relevance beyond Punjab, its only remaining stronghold.
For BJP, this victory reinforces its dominance ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The party has demonstrated its ability to overthrow a strong regional player by leveraging a mix of targeted messaging, welfare assurances, and a focus on governance.
As Delhi transitions into a new political era under BJP’s rule, all eyes will be on how the party delivers on its promises and whether it can maintain the trust of the electorate in the years to come.
