The Delhi election results may have shocked many, but I can’t say I was one of them. The fall of AAP was not a matter of if but when. A party born from the ideals of alternative politics could not sustain itself while indulging in the very tactics it once opposed. Arvind Kejriwal, who once embodied change, slowly morphed into a politician indistinguishable from the establishment he once vowed to challenge. The illusion of governance, built on social media spectacle, hollow promises, and development confined to paper, was bound to crumble. Arrogance replaced accountability, as Kejriwal repeatedly claimed that no force could dislodge him from Delhi. Kejriwal’s rise in Delhi politics was a textbook example of Machiavellian’s prince with his NGO politics. He crafted a populist narrative, from a successful bureaucrat to a rebel against the corrupt system winning people’s trust. He projected himself as a political outsider, aligning with Anna-Hazare’s anti corruption movement. Yet, in a calculated move, he soon abandoned this non-political stance, launching AAP and rebranding himself as the true ‘Aam Aadmi.’ He refused VIP security, donned chappals, travelled by metro and reinforced his legitimacy as a leader of common men. However, as Machiavelli warns, power changes men. His true face and hypocrisy was exposed as he soon found himself in a Sheesh Mahal and got addicted to the very system he once vowed to dismantle. His ends justified the means as he constantly betrayed his early alliances like Anna Hazare, Yogendra Yadav and even let Swati Maliwal take the fall.
Kejriwal transformed his ideological stance depending on what suited his electoral prospects. He began as an anti-establishment secular leader but later courted Hindu votes, visiting temples and reciting the Hanuman Chalisa. However, his arrogance was his end as he mocked his political opponents, dismissed criticisms and underestimated BJP’s grassroots strengths. He became over-reliant on social media perception rather than real voter sentiment. His casual dismissals of critical national issues, asking for proof of the Pulwama attack and laughing at the plight of Kashmiri Hindus, created a perception of arrogance and detachment. However, history has a way of humbling those who believe they are invincible. Kejriwal’s involvement in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam and legal entanglements with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) dented his moral credibility. Once projected as an incorruptible leader, his image was shattered when corruption allegations surfaced against AAP ministers. Thus, AAP fought a battle on two fronts, its moral existence in the courts and its political survival in Delhi, and with the election results, it lost both. However, this election was more than just the collapse of AAP, it was the surge of BJP reclaiming Delhi after 27 years. The verdict is clear: revdi politics may bring short-term victories, but it cannot sustain power indefinitely. The capital has spoken, and its message is unmistakable.
The BJP entered the Delhi elections without a clear Chief Ministerial face, some candidates were virtually unknown. Yet, the results shattered long-standing political myths. The party made inroads into Dalit and Muslim-majority constituencies, proving that its appeal had expanded beyond traditional voter bases. Women, once again, played a decisive role, consolidating their votes in favor of the BJP, giving it a crucial edge over AAP. This victory was more than just an electoral win, it was a historic turnaround for a party that had been confined to the opposition benches in Delhi since 1998. But what really worked in BJP’s favor? How did it achieve such a dramatic shift, bringing AAP’s dominance to an abrupt halt? The answer lies in the aftermath of the Lok Sabha elections. When BJP’s performance showed signs of decline compared to previous cycles, the opposition celebrated what they perceived as the beginning of its downfall. But BJP didn’t retreat, it regrouped, learned from its mistakes and came back stronger. The results in Delhi are part of a larger pattern: a political hat-trick that began with Haryana, extended to Maharashtra, and has now culminated in Delhi.
BJP’s quiet, back-to-basics approach played a crucial role in its success. Instead of relying on high-profile candidates or grand national narratives, the party focused on hyperlocal, constituency-based issues, ensuring its campaign resonated with everyday concerns. While other political parties banked on flashy, social media-driven campaigns, BJP, through the RSS, worked silently on the ground, engaging directly with voters. In a strategic and low-profile voter awareness drive, RSS volunteers traversed Delhi, initiating discussions on critical local issues such as air pollution, Yamuna cleanliness, the presence of Rohingya refugees, and women’s safety. These campaigns did not explicitly urge voters to support BJP or oppose AAP. Instead, they brought attention to stark realities, such as how over 43 per cent of Jhuggi-Jhopri cluster residents were forced to purchase potable water and how 70 per cent of patients had no choice but to seek treatment in private hospitals. This struck a chord, particularly among lower-income groups, where the much-publicized Mohalla Clinic model of AAP had failed to deliver on the ground. From parks to temples, nearly 50,000 RSS volunteers executed a silent yet impactful campaign across 30 districts and 173 nagars. With a meticulous approach, they micromanaged over 13,000 polling booths, holding 60,000+ meetings across 70 seats, averaging an astonishing 850 meetings per constituency. Their systematic groundwork ensured that issues affecting common citizens became the focal point of the election, subtly shaping the narrative without overt party endorsement. While other parties relied on optics, BJP banked on groundwork. And in the end, this silent but methodical outreach proved to be the game-changer in Delhi’s electoral battleground.
The people’s mandate made it very clear that they want a complete makeover of government and the way it is to govern. However, BJP must see this victory not just as a political triumph, but as a responsibility to transform Delhi. The long night is over, and with time on its side, the party has a rare opportunity to reshape the capital from a chaotic, refugee-filled city into a world-class metropolis. All of the NCR is glowing saffron now and this is a rare opportunity to document good governance. If done right, this won’t just be another electoral win, it will be a living testament to BJP’s governance, vision, and credibility. More than securing votes, this is a chance to prove what the party can achieve when both the Centre and State are aligned. With no opposition roadblocks to blame, BJP has no excuses, only the mandate, the power, and the responsibility to deliver.
