The Aam Aadmi Party, which took charge of Delhi thrice consecutively, faced a setback in the latest assembly elections. Emerging from the Anna Movement, AAP seized power in Delhi as early as 2013. Subsequently, securing 67 historical seats in 2015, and 62 seats in 2020, Brand Kejriwal only grew stronger. The party's convener, Arvind Kejriwal, positioned himself as a staunchly honest leader, which resonated well. However, allegations of corruption against the party's top leaders towards the end of their second term marred this image. As Kejriwal ended up in jail right before the elections, AAP's defeat became inevitable.
Incarcerated on Corruption Charges
With arrests over liquor scams and money laundering, including Satyendra Jain, Sanjay Singh, Manish Sisodia, and Arvind Kejriwal, the electoral tide shifted. Initially, it was believed Kejriwal would capitalize on this from behind bars, as he appointed Atishi as Delhi's chief minister, intending to enter the elections untarnished. However, the BJP leveraged this narrative, reframing Kejriwal's 'steadfastly honest' image as 'steadfastly dishonest.' Kejriwal even left his integrity to the public judgment during campaigns, urging a win if found honest.
Public Outrage over Alcohol Shops
Beyond corruption and incarceration, the sale of alcohol became a pressing issue among citizens, especially females. Aajtak.in's special election program 'Delhi Speaks' saw voters in the capital's assembly segments express clear disdain for alcohol shops. The BJP heavily criticized the Kejriwal government, blaming it for youth addiction. This issue further tarnished Kejriwal's image.
Yamuna's Inability to Be Cleaned
Yamuna's cleanliness emerged as a pivotal election issue. In the final weeks, Kejriwal accused Haryana's BJP government of poisoning its waters, which backfired. Haryana's CM, Naib Singh Saini, drank from Yamuna to undercut Kejriwal's claims. Even Kejriwal, in campaign dialogues, conceded failure to cleanse Yamuna, seeking a third chance from voters. However, voter skepticism over past unfulfilled promises remained apparent.
'Sheesh Mahal' Issue Exploited by BJP
The 'Sheesh Mahal' issue was another key attack angle exploited by the BJP, alleging that Kejriwal spent millions on curtains in his official residence while Delhiites faced a deadly COVID wave. This issue weakened Kejriwal's 'common man' image. Prime Minister Narendra Modi indirectly critiqued the focus on luxury home installations during a Parliament speech, contrasting it to BJP's commitment to ensuring water supply to every home.
Criticism Over MCD Performance
Despite AAP's entry into MCD, issues like roads, sewage, waste, and clean water remain unresolved for citizens. Our team on the ground noted these challenges as prominent, and local issues dominated Delhi's elections. This ongoing dissatisfaction extracted a toll on Kejriwal's administration.
Reported Assault on Swati Maliwal
The alleged assault on party's female MP Swati Maliwal at the Chief Minister's residence also played a role in AAP's electoral defeat. Accusations directed by Maliwal against Kejriwal remained persistent throughout the election, while Kejriwal remained mostly silent. The BJP captured this narrative, portraying Kejriwal as anti-women, and post-election, Maliwal dubbed it a defeat of Kejriwal's arrogance.
Estrangement from Old Allies
The defection of allies like Swati Maliwal and Kailash Gehlot added electoral challenges for the party. Several MLAs switched allegiance to BJP just before elections, affecting AAP adversely. The separation from figures like Prashant Bhushan, Kumar Vishwas, and Yogendra Yadav reflects questions on Kejriwal's leadership style. Commenting on results, Kumar Vishwas remarked on Kejriwal's prioritization of personal ambitions over the dreams of millions of activists.
Keziwal faced defeat not solely due to anti-incumbency but also these compounded issues. Public outrage against AAP was evident as BJP's Parvesh Verma defeated Kejriwal on New Delhi assembly seat by around 4,000 votes. Additionally, former ministers Satyendra Jain and Manish Sisodia also lost their constituencies, along with senior leaders like Saurabh Bhardwaj and Somnath Bharti.
In Delhi's results, BJP secured victory in 48 of 70 assembly seats, while Aam Aadmi Party settled for 22 seats. Congress, continuously failing to sustain ground in Delhi, secured no seats for the third time. All eyes are on the next CM candidate as BJP contested without announcing one.
