In a dramatic political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to reclaim power in Delhi after 27 years, decisively ending the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long dominance. With counting in its final stages, the BJP has secured six seats and is leading in 42 of the 70-member Assembly, marking a stunning turnaround from its single-digit tally in 2020.

AAP’s Fall, Congress’s Continued Collapse

Once a formidable force in Delhi politics, AAP has won six seats but is trailing with only 16 leads—a steep decline from its near-sweep victories in 2015 and 2020. Meanwhile, the Congress remains consistent at zero, failing to secure a single lead for the third consecutive time.

Key Defeats: Kejriwal, Sisodia Unseated

The BJP’s resurgence has unseated top AAP leaders, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. In a major upset, Kejriwal lost his New Delhi seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by around 3,000 votes. This marks the first time since 2013 that Kejriwal has lost an election.

In Jangpura, Sisodia, out on bail, conceded defeat to BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah, trailing by 572 votes after nine rounds of counting. Despite the loss, he expressed hope for BJP’s focus on governance, stating:
“We fell short by 600 votes. Hope they [BJP] will focus on the progress and welfare of the people.”

BJP’s Gains: AAP Ministers Ousted

While Atishi managed a comeback victory in Kalkaji, other AAP leaders faltered. Saurabh Bharadwaj, Delhi’s Health Minister, initially led in Greater Kailash but eventually lost to BJP’s Shikha Roy by 3,188 votes.

In Patparganj, Avadh Ojha, who replaced Manish Sisodia, conceded defeat to BJP’s Ravinder Singh Negi after trailing by over 21,000 votes. Reflecting on his loss, Ojha told to media:
“It’s my personal defeat. I couldn’t connect to people… I’ll meet the people and will contest the next election from here.”

Voter Turnout and Exit Polls

The elections, held on February 5, saw a 60.54% turnout, a decline of 2.5 percentage points from 2020. Mustafabad recorded the highest turnout at 69.01%, while Mehrauli had the lowest at 53.02%.

Exit polls had predicted a tight contest, with BJP projected to win 39 seats and AAP 30. However, the final tally suggests a stronger-than-expected wave in BJP’s favor.

The Campaign’s Turning Points

The BJP’s campaign focused on anti-corruption, leveraging allegations against Kejriwal and Sisodia over the excise policy scandal. The party also capitalized on public outrage over Kejriwal’s lavish bungalow renovation, dubbed “Sheesh Mahal”, and his party’s governance record.

AAP, on the defensive, blamed the BJP-led Centre and Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena for governance hurdles. However, this argument failed to gain traction among voters.

What Next for AAP?

With Delhi slipping from its grip, AAP now faces an existential crisis. The defeat could derail the party’s national ambitions, leaving Punjab as its last stronghold.

For the BJP, this historic victory not only ends a 27-year wait but also cements its dominance across India’s political landscape. The party now faces the challenge of delivering on governance, as Delhi’s voters watch closely.