Arvind Kejriwal Defeated in New Delhi as AAP Faces Major Setback

In a major political setback,  AAP faced a defeat making the party rout in this election. Once proven to be a dominant political force in Delhi, AAP was subjugated raising concerns for the party's and Kejriwal’s leadership.

He ended about 1,200 votes behind his opponent, while Sandeep Dikshit of the Congress came in third. These results will likely rekindle discussions about the gap between the two parties since both are members of the INDIA Bloc. An alliance would've been a profitable option as Kejriwal would've retained his seat if not his government. 

Meanwhile, Mr Parvesh Verma a two-time BJP MP. He was acclaimed as a "giant slayer" and a potential chief minister candidate. He is following in the footsteps of his father, Sahib Singh Verma, and is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah. According to his wife, Swati Singh Verma, "Today's victory shows that people have trust in BJP and PM Modi..." He congratulated the voters and mentioned a "double engine" government in the city, referring to the BJP's control of both the centre and now Delhi.

Kejriwal has held the seat in Delhi since 2013, when he defeated Congress veteran and subsequent Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit to announce the AAP's ten-year takeover of the city.

Instead, the AAP held 22 of Delhi's 70 Assembly seats, while the BJP held 48.

Since Mr Kejriwal and Mr Sisodia, two of the AAP's three most prominent leaders, are accused of wrongdoing in the liquor policy scandal, his defeat is instead viewed as the "end" of the party.

However, Chief Minister Atishi's victory over BJP Ramesh Bidhuri was a positive development. 

दिल्ली चुनाव के नतीज़ों पर AAP के राष्ट्रीय संयोजक @ArvindKejriwal जी का संदेश pic.twitter.com/BKyCnkSQtc

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) February 8, 2025

Following his loss Arvind Kejriwal shared a video congratulating BJP. He expressed his hope that the new government would act in the best interests of Delhi's population and acknowledged the mandate that the people had given him in his statement. The gesture was regarded as an uncommon instance of political sportsmanship amid the fiercely contested election. 

The road ahead for AAP

With Arvind Kejriwal's loss and AAP losing its grip river the capital city, Delhi. The party has faced a major setback. After the defeat, the party could reevaluate its political strategies and might see some leadership changes, and internal reorganisation. The opposition is probably going to increase its influence in Delhi politics after taking advantage of the AAP's weaknesses.