Arvind Kejriwal and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) lost the Delhi Assembly elections in 2025 to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which secured 48 out of 70 seats, ending AAP's decade-long rule in the capital. Several factors contributed to this defeat, based on the political context and analyses available up to February 21, 2025. Here's a breakdown of the key reasons:
Erosion of Anti-Corruption Credibility: Kejriwal rose to prominence as an anti-corruption crusader during the 2011 India Against Corruption movement. However, by 2025, controversies like the alleged liquor policy scam and the "Sheesh Mahal" (a luxurious residence reportedly built with public funds) damaged his image. The BJP effectively capitalized on these issues, portraying Kejriwal as having shifted from an "Aam Aadmi" (common man) to a "VIP," which resonated with voters feeling betrayed by his earlier promises.
Governance Failures and Unfulfilled Promises: AAP's campaign had long centered on delivering freebies and improving public services like education, healthcare, and electricity. While these initiatives retained some support, critical issues like the failure to clean the Yamuna River—a promise Kejriwal made in 2020—remained unaddressed. Severe air pollution, water shortages, and poor sanitation further fueled voter discontent. Over 80% of voters in surveys expressed frustration with these persistent problems, indicating a gap between AAP's rhetoric and tangible results.
BJP's Strategic Campaign: The BJP, absent from Delhi's power for 27 years, mounted an effective campaign in 2025. It avoided personal attacks on Kejriwal and instead focused on his alleged misgovernance, highlighting corruption and infrastructure woes. The party leveraged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's popularity and promised "Modi guarantees" like cleaning the Yamuna and improving urban infrastructure. This narrative shift trapped AAP in a defensive position, unable to counter effectively.
Congress as a Spoiler: Although the Indian National Congress (INC) won no seats, it played a significant role in splitting the anti-BJP vote. In key constituencies like New Delhi (where Kejriwal lost to BJP's Parvesh Verma by 4,089 votes) and Jangpura (where Manish Sisodia lost by 675 votes), Congress polled enough votes—4,568 and 7,350 respectively—to exceed the BJP's victory margins. This suggests that a potential AAP-Congress alliance might have altered the outcome, a miscalculation on Kejriwal's part after rejecting cooperation with Congress.
Leadership and Legal Challenges: Kejriwal's arrest in March 2024 in the liquor policy case, followed by his resignation in September 2024, aimed to project moral high ground. However, this move backfired. His prolonged legal battles and absence from active governance shifted focus from AAP's achievements to its scandals. Atishi, who succeeded him as Chief Minister, won her seat but couldn’t reverse the party’s declining momentum. The jailing of other senior leaders like Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain further weakened AAP's organizational strength.
Middle-Class Disillusionment: AAP's initial appeal was strongest among Delhi's middle and lower classes. By 2025, its middle-class manifesto—lacking concrete promises and instead listing demands from the central government—failed to inspire. The BJP, in contrast, tapped into middle-class aspirations and disillusionment with AAP’s governance, securing their support and anchoring its victory.
Internal Party Dynamics and Over-Reliance on Kejriwal: Critics, including former AAP leaders like Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan, pointed to Kejriwal’s shift from collective leadership to a "supremo-dominated" model. This centralization stifled internal dissent and innovation, leaving AAP overly dependent on Kejriwal’s persona. When his credibility took a hit, the party struggled to adapt, losing voter trust.
In summary, Kejriwal’s loss in 2025 stemmed from a combination of governance shortcomings, damaged credibility, strategic missteps, and a resurgent BJP that outmaneuvered AAP. The election was widely seen as a referendum on Kejriwal’s leadership, and the verdict reflected Delhi voters’ desire for change after a decade of AAP rule.
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