After nearly three decades, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to reclaim power in Delhi, securing a decisive victory over the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and bringing an end to its decade-long governance. With vote counting nearing completion, BJP has surpassed the majority mark of 36 seats, winning 47 and leading in one of the 70 constituencies—an extraordinary turnaround from its single-digit performance in the 2020 elections.

AAP, which had dominated the last two Assembly polls, managed to secure only 22 seats, while the Congress failed to register a win for the third consecutive time.

Key Defeats for AAP

The BJP’s victory saw significant setbacks for AAP’s leadership. Arvind Kejriwal, who had held the New Delhi seat since 2013, lost to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by 4,089 votes. Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia faced defeat in Jangpura against BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah, trailing by 572 votes.

Atishi, who assumed the Chief Minister’s role after Kejriwal’s arrest, managed to secure a win in Kalkaji, defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri. However, AAP’s Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj lost to BJP’s Shikha Roy in Greater Kailash by 3,188 votes.

In Patparganj, AAP’s candidate Avadh Ojha, who replaced Manish Sisodia, was defeated by BJP’s Ravinder Singh Negi by over 21,000 votes.

BJP’s Reaction and Modi’s Statement

Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the victory, attributing it to the people's mandate for development and good governance. “We guarantee that we will leave no stone unturned to ensure the all-round development of Delhi and to make the lives of its people better,” he said.

Kejriwal Concedes Defeat

Accepting the results, Arvind Kejriwal released a video message acknowledging the voters’ verdict. He stated that AAP would now focus on being a responsible opposition and reiterated that politics for them was a means to serve people rather than just attain power.

Voter Turnout and Election Issues

The Delhi Assembly elections, held on February 5, saw a voter turnout of 60.54%, slightly lower than the 2020 elections. Mustafabad recorded the highest turnout at 69.01%, while Mehrauli saw the lowest at 53.02%.

The election battle was shaped by key issues such as governance, public services, and corruption allegations. BJP’s campaign aggressively highlighted controversies surrounding Kejriwal’s government, particularly his residence renovation costs and alleged financial irregularities. Meanwhile, AAP, still dealing with the arrests of Kejriwal and Sisodia in the excise policy case, blamed governance hurdles on interference from the Lieutenant Governor. However, this argument failed to resonate with voters.

AAP’s Future in Jeopardy

The electoral loss in Delhi marks a significant setback for AAP, jeopardizing its national ambitions. With Punjab as its last major stronghold, the party now faces the challenge of regaining public trust and reestablishing its position in Delhi’s political landscape.