Results declared on Saturday tightened BJP’s grip over national politics as it secured the hitherto elusive electoral prize of the National Capital, extending its power in the northern region, where it already controls the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Riding high on its promise of effective governance, BJP capitalised on the anti-incumbency and graft charges against AAP, even as it followed its tested formula of not projecting a chief ministerial face and instead relying on the personal appeal of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party made a dramatic comeback, increasing its tally to 48 from just eight in the 2020 Assembly election. BJP’s pledge of good governance finally won the day.
Inroads in Reserved Seats
This was despite the fact that former chief minister Kejriwal seemed to be setting the agenda freebies early on. AAP could barely hold on to its dedicated support base among the lower socio-economic classes.
BJP reclaimed its traditional Punjabi Khatri vote base and made inroads into AAP’s Dalit constituency as it roared back to power. The party won four of the 12 constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes. AAP had swept all these seats five years earlier.In an address to party workers, Modi said people’s power is supreme and that they ensured development and good governance won. “We guarantee we will leave no stone unturned to ensure the all-round development of Delhi and to make the lives of its people better.” BJP had been out of power in Delhi since 1998, when the Congress won under Sheila Dikshit and ruled Delhi for 15 years.In 2013, using the ‘India Against Corruption’ plank, Kejriwal defeated Dikshit and relegated Congress to political wilderness in the capital. However, in the run-up to the 2025 elections, AAP lost the moral high ground as its leaders found themselves embroiled in several corruption charges. Allegations of kickbacks in connection with the erstwhile Delhi excise policy and expenses incurred on renovation of the chief minister’s residence appear to have particularly harmed the party.
