Delhi assembly elections results are out finally with BJP beating AAP convincingly and securing 48 seats, a two thirds majority, on its own. The balance 22 seats went to AAP. The Congress achieved the dubious distinction of a hat trick of ducks in the last three elections. The vote shares of the three parties in 2025 are 45.8 %, 43.8 % and 6.4% as against 38.5%, 53.6 % and 4.3 % in 2020 respectively of the votes cast.
Did Congress spoil AAP’s party? Perhaps it did, if one assumes that most of its votes would have fallen in AAP’s account if they had formed an alliance. But that is more a conjecture than a reality. There is no guarantee that all Congress votes would have fallen in AAP’s kitty since seat sharing too would have come into play. The real issue here is the loss of 9.8% vote share of AAP from its 2020 performance. The BJP benefitted by 7.3% from this loss while the Congress added 2.1% to its tally. One must note that AAP’s vote share remained nearly intact from 2015 to 2020 at 54.3% and 53.6% respectively.
AAP government’s performance in the last five years had been insipid to say the least and marred with corruption charges against its top leadership. The momentum it had created from 2015 to 2019 seems to have petered out with very little happening on the ground in last five years. Citizens of Delhi continue to battle with some major irritants like pollution, overcrowded hospitals, cleaning of river Yamuna, repair and upkeep of roads, water logging and water supply issues. Most people seem to be fed up with AAP government’s constant conflict with the Lt Governor and bickering against the Centre. The freebies approach of the party had its impact for a few years but in the end, the citizens of Delhi need good and effective governance. The former is a short-term gain while the latter is what makes a real difference to the lives of the people in the long run. But AAP, in its misplaced arrogance, failed to understand this differentiation.
The role of the convenor of AAP cannot be overlooked in this rout. For Mr Kejriwal, Delhi and Punjab successes were mere stepping stones towards realising his national ambitions. As Chief Minister of Delhi, he neither held any portfolio nor applied himself to resolve Delhi’s pressing problems. In 2022, his party won Punjab on a platform of freebies and doles, the adverse impact to the state’s already precarious finances notwithstanding. The state continues to reel under financial crunch with hardly any signs of development or progress under the AAP government in last three years. Once again, Mr Kejriwal failed to deliver. He exploited these political successes only to further his national footprint.
Today, Mr Kejriwal’s mask of an honest and ‘people’s politician’ has fallen off. His past statements and promises where he wowed to retain his AAM AADMI status have come to haunt him. He has used and misused government resources to the hilt. The massive advertising budgets to project his image at the cost of tax payers’ money is a prime example in this regard. Presently, he and most of his senior party colleagues in Delhi are out on bail on charges of corruption. But the nail in the coffin has to be the rise of his official residence from a humble government bungalow to what is now known as ‘Sheesh Mahal’ at a cost of over Rs 50 crores. Unfortunately, Mr Kejriwal had no plausible answers to offer on any of these issues.
There are many takeaways from this election. The BJP retained its dominance in five of the seven Lok Sabha constituencies while sharing equal honours in the balance two. Out of a total electorate of 1.56 crores, only 99.5 lakhs (60.4%) voters cast their votes. There is a case for this percentage to increase to at least about 80%. The promises for freebies reached new heights during this election and all parties, including BJP, are guilty of playing the game of robbing Paul to pay Peter. A society that boasts of an over 60% established middle class and an emerging neo middle class, this strategy does not cut much ice. The need of the hour is an effective, efficient and a corruption free government. It remains to be seen how the BJP will fulfil the many promises it has made.
Most of the top AAP leadership, including Mr Kejriwal, bit the dust barring Atishi Marlena and Gopal Rai. There was a marked swing of Poorvanchali voters, who dominate 20 seats. BJP won 13 of these while AAP could manage only seven. Out of six Muslim dominated constituencies, the BJP could win only one. AAP, which owed its success to a movement against corruption, seems to have lost the momentum to become just another political party. The importance of keeping such momentum going, especially for new comers, cannot be overemphasized.
BJP has come back to power in Delhi after a gap of 27 years. The party has its task cutout to make a noticeable difference to live up to the faith imposed in it. It has to prove that a ‘double engine sarkar’ is certainly a better option. An early selection of the Chief Minister, his team and their swearing in will be a good start. BJP’s early start and its outreach to voters paid it rich dividends. The Centre played its part by coming out with a middle-class friendly budget. The main disappointment for BJP would be that it failed to win the whole trader class that has been its strength traditionally. This is evident from its losses in Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh and Chandni Chowk constituencies.
The history of Indian politics is replete with examples where voters have punished erring political parties and their leaders often. The 2014 national election was a prime example in this regard where Congress paid a heavy price for misgovernance and corruption. In 2024, the voters sent a very clear warning to the BJP government by not giving it a majority on its own. In 2015 and 2020, Delhi surprised everyone by giving massive mandates to AAP. In 2025, it has been shown the door. Perhaps, it is a signal that a significant part of Indian voters has come of age and do not wish to be taken for granted.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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