New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has registered a decisive victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, ending the 12-year rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). With AAP reduced to the opposition and Congress failing to win a single seat, the BJP celebrated its triumph across the national capital. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to X to highlight the party’s victory, posting a screenshot of the Election Commission of India’s results. “AAPda se mukti,” he wrote in Hindi.
आपदा से मुक्ति pic.twitter.com/RmaSZeOZVM
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) February 8, 2025
Speaking at an event in Ashok Vihar, New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi coined the slogan, “AAPda ko nahi sahenge, badal ke rahenge” (We will not tolerate the disaster, we will bring change). He repeated the phrase multiple times, with the crowd enthusiastically joining in amidst loud cheers. Criticising the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for hindering Delhi’s progress, he said that voters had made up their minds to remove the party from power. “This is the nation’s capital and its people deserve good governance. However, for the past decade, Delhi has been caught in a major ‘AAPda’ (disaster),” he said.
As of 2:30 pm on Saturday, trends from the Election Commission website showed the BJP leading in 47 seats, while AAP was ahead in only 23. Congress, once a dominant force in Delhi politics, failed to open its account.
Key factors behind AAP’s defeat
AAP faced multiple challenges in this election, with corruption allegations against its top leadership playing a significant role in its downfall. BJP leaders consistently raised the issue of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s involvement in the alleged liquor scam, both of whom are in jail.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders also attacked Kejriwal over his extravagant lifestyle, pointing to the controversial ₹55 crore renovation of his official residence, dubbed ‘Sheesh Mahal’. The BJP countered AAP’s ‘guarantees’ with its own, offering a range of welfare promises that resonated strongly with women and young voters.
Modi factor and economic promises
The BJP’s campaign was further strengthened by key economic promises, including income tax concessions up to Rs 12 lakh announced in the Union Budget. This reportedly influenced a large section of central government employees in Delhi, who backed the party. The BJP’s ‘double-engine government’ narrative—that development in Delhi would accelerate under a BJP-led central and state government—also found strong support among voters.
Split in opposition votes
A divided opposition also played into the BJP’s hands. Congress and AAP contested separately despite being allies in the INDIA bloc, leading to a split in anti-BJP votes. Additionally, fragmentation among Muslim voters further aided the BJP’s prospects. With the landslide victory, the BJP has secured a firm grip on the capital, setting the stage for a new political chapter in Delhi.
