The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a significant electoral victory, reclaiming power in Delhi after a 27-year hiatus. The BJP's triumph marks a major setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had dominated Delhi's political landscape with its welfare-centric governance. The BJP's strategic campaign, which mirrored AAP's welfare promises, played a crucial role in reshaping voter preferences. The absence of a declared chief ministerial candidate also worked to the BJP's advantage, allowing the party to focus on broader issues without internal distractions.
The election saw Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's leader and former chief minister, lose his New Delhi assembly seat to BJP's Parvesh Verma by over 3,100 votes. This defeat is particularly significant as it underscores the weakening grip of AAP on Delhi's electorate. Kejriwal's deputy, Manish Sisodia, has been embroiled in legal troubles, spending 17 months in Tihar jail on charges of money laundering. The BJP secured 48 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi assembly, while AAP's presence dwindled from 63 seats in 2020 to just 22.
"What once started as a people’s movement had now fizzled into a mere political party," – Neelanjan Sircar
The BJP's success comes despite its earlier struggles to secure voter support in Delhi assembly elections, although it has consistently won all seven of Delhi's parliamentary seats in recent elections. For over a decade, the BJP has maintained control over India's parliament, though it lost its parliamentary majority last year and now governs with the backing of regional allies.
AAP's downfall in this election can be attributed to several factors, including a perceived decline in governance and public dissatisfaction. Kejriwal was arrested by India's financial crime agency on corruption charges before last year's national election, casting a shadow over his leadership. The AAP had positioned this election as a referendum on its governance and leaders' innocence, but the strategy failed to resonate with voters.
"It feels like BJP will never lose an election again. They have the system sewn up tight." – Nivedita Menon
The BJP's victory reflects a significant shift in Delhi's political dynamics. The party has successfully centralised power in line with Modi's national approach, despite being distanced from state politics for years. The AAP's temporary lockdown of its headquarters as BJP celebrations erupted nearby highlighted the party’s sudden fall from grace.
"This is a defeat of the AAP’s arrogance and bad governance." – Zafar Islam
"Elections in India have become highly transactional and the voter wants to know what will they get for their vote," – Kidwai
The implications of this result extend beyond Delhi. The defeat challenges AAP's expansionist ambitions and raises questions about its future strategy. Rahul Verma commented on the situation, noting that AAP has never faced time out of power in Delhi, making this loss particularly challenging.
"Their national leaders losing is an embarrassment and will choke the expansionist impulse, which AAP had a couple of years ago," – Rahul Verma
The BJP's campaign strategy focused heavily on grassroots mobilization and addressing voters' immediate needs. Zafar Islam highlighted the party's efforts to connect with grassroots workers and convey messages of prosperity directly to voters.
"Since the [national] election, our party has been reaching out to our grassroots workers, who have worked hard, to ensure that the message of prosperity reaches every voter," – Zafar Islam
Kejriwal's inability to maintain voter trust appears to have been compounded by anti-incumbency sentiments among middle-class voters. Neelanjan Sircar commented on this aspect, noting that anti-incumbency hurt AAP’s image and contributed to the electoral swing.
"There was strong anti-incumbency [against the AAP] after a decade and that hurt its image among middle-class voters, which resulted in the swing," – Neelanjan Sircar
The BJP's decisive victory in Delhi demonstrates its successful adaptation to local political contexts and its ability to capitalise on opposition weaknesses. With control over Delhi, the BJP strengthens its position as a dominant force in Indian politics.
"Unless you’re able to get at least some bits and pieces of all the population, it’s going to be hard to win the election," – Neelanjan Sircar
