BJP Wins Delhi, Ending AAP's Decade-Long Reign

The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long rule in the national capital has ended with the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to form the government after a 27-year gap. The election has also unseated key AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia from their respective constituencies. Kejriwal lost the New Delhi seat, where the BJP’s Parvesh Verma defeated him by over 3,000 votes. This is the same seat from which Kejriwal defeated former CM Sheila Dikshit in 2013, ending her 15-year rule.

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In the 70-seat assembly in Delhi, the BJP has crossed the majority mark of 35 seats according to data from the Election Commission of India at the time of writing. The BJP has so far won 44 seats and is leading in another 4 seats. The AAP, which had been in power since 2015, has won 21 seats and is leading in one other. The Congress, which governed Delhi from 1998 to 2013, is nowhere in the picture.

For the BJP, regaining Delhi is more than just an electoral win—it marks a return to power in the capital after nearly three decades. The last time the party governed the city was in 1998, with Sushma Swaraj as Chief Minister. 

For the AAP, this defeat is a big blow. Hailed as one of the most successful political startups in recent political history, the AAP made a swift ascent to national prominence since forming its first government in Delhi in 2013 and has remained in power since. In a video message, while conceding defeat, Kejriwal said, "We accept the mandate of the people with great humility. I congratulate the BJP for this victory and I hope they will fulfil all the promises for which people have voted for them." He added, "We have done a lot of work in the field of health, education, and infrastructure in the last 10 years. We will not only play the role of a constructive Opposition but will also remain among the people and continue to serve them."

What Went Wrong For The AAP?

Much of the BJP’s campaign targeted Arvind Kejriwal, an anti-corruption activist turned politician, who was jailed last year on corruption charges in connection with a now-scrapped liquor policy. Kejriwal denies all charges and was released on bail in September.  He accused the BJP of political vendetta, but the saffron party rejected these claims. The corruption allegations took a toll on his 'clean politics' image.

AAP also seems to have lost the middle-class vote. While lower-income groups largely remained loyal, middle and upper-middle-class voters moved towards the BJP. The AAP was born out of the middle class’s frustration with the political status quo. However, over the years, it has come to be increasingly seen by this class as a party that works only for the poor, with welfare schemes such as 200 units of free electricity and free bus travel for women. The argument that Kejriwal was using middle-class tax money to fund freebies for others filtered through the voters, and the party had lost the confidence of the middle class.

Tensions between the Delhi government and the Lieutenant Governor (LG) also played a role. With Delhi being a union territory, the LG holds significant power. Voters seem to have decided that a BJP government was likely to function more efficiently alongside a Centre-appointed LG. 

The AAP was also dealing with a decade of anti-incumbency sentiment and internal discord as a result of its senior leaders spending extended periods of time in jail. 

The AAP's Performance In Past Elections

The AAP had firmly established itself in Delhi politics in the last two elections. Formed in 2012, the party came to power the following year and has maintained its hold since 2015.

In the 2013 Assembly election, BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 31 seats, falling five short of the majority in the 70-member house. The AAP and the Congress, with 28 and eight seats, respectively, formed a government, but it lasted only 49 days. This led to the imposition of President’s rule in Delhi.

In 2015, Kejriwal’s party won 67 out of 70 seats. The BJP managed only three, while the Congress failed to open its account.

The AAP repeated its strong performance in 2020, winning 62 seats. The BJP improved its tally to eight, but the Congress again failed to secure any seats.

The 2025 elections, however, have reversed the tide. Arvind Kejriwal and his AAP are no longer the unchallenged political force in the national capital as the BJP takes the reins of power.