BJP's Parvesh Verma; ex-Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.
Credit: PTI Photos
Results of the Delhi Assembly elections are being declared, and it has become clear that the BJP is storming to power in the national capital after a long wait of 27 years. AAP has suffered a humiliating defeat this time around, with both their top leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia losing their respective seats.
PM Modi, Amit Shah, and others have already congratulated BJP's Delhi leadership for their decisive performance that will bring in a CM belonging to the saffron party after Sushma Swaraj in 1998.
Here are the key takeaways from the Delhi Assembly elections:
Liquor policy proves too costly
Top AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Saurabh Bharadwaj lost in their respective constituencies.
Kejriwal lost to BJP's Parvesh Verma, Sisodia lost to Tarvinder Singh Marwah, while Bharadwaj lost to the BJP's Shikha Roy.
Notably, both Kejriwal and Sisodia were arrested for their alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy 'scam'. AAP had come into the limelight on an anti-corruption plank, and their top leaders being accused of such misdeeds probably dented their clean image in the eyes of the Delhi voters.
Budget gives bountiful back to BJP
The BJP crossed the halfway mark soon after counting began, and the trend continued as the day progressed. Some believe the notable income tax cuts announced in the Budget 2025, which was presented days before Delhi went to polls, helped the saffron party win the middle class' favour.
Infighting in I.N.D.I.A. to blame?
Some observers and experts are already blaming AAP and the Congress for BJP's win in the Delhi elections. Jammu and Kashmir chief Omar Abdullah, who swept the assembly polls in the union territory in a coalition with the Congress, slammed the two parties for infighting as it became clear that the BJP will govern the national capital for the next five years.
Vote against AAP or in favour of BJP?
While trying to explain Delhiites' sentiments behind the massive victory of the BJP, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed on X that the people of Delhi decided to reject 'Arvind Kejriwal’s politics of deceit, deception, and vastly exaggerated claims of achievement.'
Ramesh believes that when AAP managed to win the 2015 and 2020 polls in Delhi despite PM Modi's huge popularity at the time, it means now it is Kejriwal who is getting rejected by the people of Delhi.
His sentiment was also echoed by Congress' Priyanka Gandhi, who said people of the national capital "voted for change" as they were "fed up with the way things were".
Minority voters against AAP?
AAP has long been accused of a 'soft Hindutva' approach in their politics to counter the BJP. They even announced assistance of Rs 18,000 per month for Hindu and Sikh priests if voted back to power in the national capital. This might have drifted minority voters away from them.
Delhi assembly elections 2025 results | Get all latest updates here
Delhi assembly elections 2025 results | Get constituency-wise details here
Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | The Delhi Assembly Elections saw a fierce contest between AAP and BJP, while Congress despite its best attempts failed to make a mark. The saffron party is all set to make a comeback in the national capital after almost three decades as AAP chief Kejriwal has accepted the people's verdict and looks to be part of a constructive opposition. Reactions from all quarters are pouring in as BJP celebrates its first electoral win in 2025, with Bihar polls slated to take place later this year. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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