Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 | Why Aam Aadmi Party lost Delhi

Two pillars defined AAP’s politics in Delhi: the ‘Delhi Model of Governance’, and its anti-corruption stand. Both have been significantly weakened over the past five years

The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections have delivered a stark verdict — Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) are no longer the undisputed political force in the national capital. With the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) crossing the majority mark of 36 and leading in 47 seats, while AAP trails behind with 23, the writing on the wall is clear. Adding to AAP’s woes, top leaders — including Kejriwal, and Manish Sisodia — are losing from their own constituencies, a symbolic and strategic blow to the party leadership’s credibility.

For a party that emerged from the anti-corruption movement and built its identity around the ‘Delhi Model of Governance’, this defeat is more than an electoral setback — it is an existential crisis. Losing Delhi raises fundamental questions about AAP’s governance model, its ability to retain voter trust, and its long-term future in Indian politics.

Anti-incumbency and the Kejriwal factor

Since its inception, AAP has never had to function as an opposition party. Kejriwal has remained in power — either in Delhi or through AAP’s expansion into Punjab — since 2015. This election marks the first time the party is being pushed into a position where it must rethink its entire strategy.

A key reason behind AAP’s defeat is the strong anti-incumbency wave against Kejriwal. Voter fatigue with his leadership was evident, and the BJP capitalised on this sentiment, attacking AAP on multiple fronts — governance failures, corruption allegations, and a growing perception of arrogance within the leadership.

Two pillars have historically defined AAP’s politics in Delhi: the ‘Delhi Model of Governance’, and its anti-corruption stand.

Both have been significantly weakened over the past five years. AAP’s governance model, once hailed for its focus on education and healthcare, developed cracks. Civic issues like pollution, sanitation, and traffic congestion remained unaddressed, despite AAP winning control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The failure to deliver on its governance promises led to growing discontent among Delhi’s voters.

The liquor policy scam, irregularities in the Delhi Jal Board, and multiple financial corruption allegations damaged AAP’s credibility. The arrests of Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh only reinforced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s narrative that AAP was no longer the clean, idealistic party it once claimed to be.

Decline of Kejriwal’s credibility

Kejriwal’s personal appeal, which once helped AAP dominate Delhi’s political landscape, eroded significantly. The Sheesh Mahal controversy played a crucial role in damaging his public image. The optics of Kejriwal — once a symbol of simplicity — living in luxury while preaching austerity was hard to ignore.

This credibility crisis particularly impacted women voters, who had played a crucial role in AAP’s 2020 victory. Despite announcing the Mahila Samman Yojana, AAP failed to generate enthusiasm among female voters. The scepticism stemmed from the fact that similar promises in Punjab had remained unfulfilled.

Middle-class shift towards BJP

AAP’s loss can also be attributed to its failure to retain middle-class support. While lower-income groups remained somewhat loyal, middle and upper-middle-class voters moved towards the BJP. The argument that Kejriwal was using middle-class tax money to fund freebies for others resonated strongly.

Sensing this shift, Kejriwal attempted a late-course correction by releasing a 7-point middle-class manifesto, but the damage was already done. Meanwhile, BJP outmanoeuvred AAP by announcing a ‘zero-income tax’ policy for earnings up to ₹12 lakh in its Budget — giving middle-class voters a tangible reason to back BJP.

Minority voter discontent

AAP also suffered from Muslim and Dalit voter disenchantment. Kejriwal’s reluctance to take a firm stand on issues affecting minorities created a perception that AAP was tilting towards soft Hindutva. This allowed Congress to position itself as the more vocal defender of minority rights.

Leadership crisis in AAP

Perhaps the most damaging factor in AAP’s downfall was its over-reliance on Kejriwal. Unlike other political parties that have well-defined leadership hierarchies, AAP remains largely a one-man show.

In previous elections, leaders like Sisodia and Satyendar Jain played a crucial role in AAP’s city-wide outreach. This time, they were either absent or preoccupied with their own battles, leaving AAP without an effective campaign strategy. The lack of a second-rung leadership structure made AAP vulnerable, and BJP exploited this weakness to full effect.

What’s next for AAP?

With Delhi slipping out of its control, AAP faces an uncertain future. Without the administrative power of Delhi, its ability to stay relevant in national politics is severely diminished. AAP’s expansion plans beyond Delhi and Punjab now look even more uncertain.

(Sayantan Ghosh is a research scholar and teaches journalism at St. Xavier’s College (autonomous), Kolkata. X: @sayantan_gh.)