The Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has made a spectacular comeback in Delhi, ending 27 years of opposition and giving a severe jolt to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party. This is a big setback for the anti-BJP opposition after a decade of AAP rule that began with an anti-corruption movement in 2013.
In the newly elected 70-seat Assembly, the BJP got 48, while AAP slumped from 63 in 2020 to a mere 22. Analysts said the transition of the Aam Aadmi Party from a grassroots movement to a regular political party has eroded its bonds with its core constituency. Neelanjan Sircar of Centre for Policy Research explained that Kejriwal does not have the same appeal as before; it reflects broader voter disenchantment.
Delhi is home to more than 33 million residents and has been a focal point of political power in India for centuries. For over 25 years, the capital resisted BJP control, even as the party rose under Modi since 2014. “The victory in Delhi is important because it increases their confidence at the pan-Indian level,” said Rasheed Kidwai, a political analyst.
The BJP’s electoral success in securing victories in three big state elections underlines effective grassroots outreach and strategic messaging. If AAP was identified with welfare programs, the BJP’s campaign seemed to strike a chord with voters by promising them development and change.
The Congress party, which leads the national opposition, has stayed out for the third consecutive election, unable to win even one seat in the Delhi Assembly. Kejriwal’s AAP now has to regroup from this humiliating defeat and work out a political trajectory that has drastically altered. With the BJP in an overriding mood, experts caution that only an adjustment to Delhi’s changing landscape will ensure any future political relevance.
