Once known for his ‘common man’ persona, Kejriwal’s arrest and the corruption charges and scams shattered the “aam aadmi” in the party, both inside and outside.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ended its exile in Delhi on Saturday, and along with that, the winning streak of 12 years of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Having established itself as one of the most successful political startups in India’s recent political history, the AAP rose to national prominence after it formed the government in the national capital in 2013. Its victory in Delhi has been one of the highlights of the party. But with its devastating loss in the Delhi elections this year, including party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, senior leaders Manish Sisodia, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Satyandar Jain, and Somnath Bharti.
Also Read | AAP’s Delhi Debacle: What Happened To Top Ministers In The Delhi Assembly Elections?
Only Delhi Chief Minister Atishi managed to secure her Kalkaji seat with a margin of 3,521 votes and MLA Gopal Rai in Babarpur.
With the party’s poor performance this time in the national capital, the party’s ambitions for anything beyond a state election seem to have faltered.
1. The Breaking Down of the “Aam Aadmi”: Sheesh Mahal, Liquor Scam, and Arrests
Perhaps the most devastating hit that the AAP took was the breakdown of Kejriwal’s image as the anti-corruption crusader due to a series of reasons. When the BJP accused the AAP government of converting the national capital into a ‘city of drunkards’ with the excise policy and receiving crores in kickbacks.
Arrests of several top leaders, including Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh, were another blow. Sisodia stepped down from his post as deputy chief minister.
If that wasn’t enough, then came the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy, where the BJP highlighted a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) indicating the renovation cost of the then chief minister’s residence had increased from Rs 7.91 crore to a whopping Rs 33.66 crore by completion.
Things didn’t end there. The arrest of Kejriwal in March 2024 was the cherry on top for the image of the leader whose name was synonymous with the AAP to break even further. Atishi taking over the leadership and Kejriwal’s eventual bail wasn’t enough to keep the sinking ship afloat anymore.
Once known for his ‘common man’ persona, Kejriwal’s arrest and the corruption charges and scams shattered the “aam aadmi” in the party, both inside and outside.
2. Anti-incumbency
In power since 2013 (after landslide victories), the government focused primarily on health and education sectors and providing subsidies on water and electricity. With Modi’s ‘Aap-da’ (or catastrophe) term to target the Delhi ruling party and highlight its ‘failure’ to govern the national capital in the last ten years, the chants for anti-incumbency grew louder and louder.
3. Drifts and Deflections
Internal drifts and dissents among the high-profile within the party also scored for BJP. As prominent leaders, including Prashant Bhushan, Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas, and Mayank Gandhi, exited after disagreeing with Kejriwal, the supremo’s style of leadership came into question.
Along with that, senior leader Kailash Gehlot’s resignation further fuelled the internal rift within the party.
4. AAP’s Freebies Backfire
While the AAP’s welfare schemes, or freebies, such as free electricity and bus travel for women, gained support in the beginning, they eventually backfired after the BJP switched its campaign from focusing on Hindutva to Kejriwal’s governance.
The AAP’s control over the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) meant that the blame could not be shifted to the BJP over the poor condition of roads, overflowing sewers, and irregular garbage collection.
Also Read | Arvind Kejriwal: When Aam Aadmi No.1 Dethroned
5. The Upset Middle Class
Failing to fulfil its promise of a cleaner city after winning the 2022 municipal corporation elections, the middle class’ disappointment with the party grew. Meanwhile, the BJP’s announcement of the 8th Pay Commission also paid off.
Unfulfilled promises, including creating 20 lakh jobs and giving piped water connections to all, among others, also contributed significantly to supporters moving on.
The BJP took advantage of the same. Focusing on local issues such as the growing air pollution crises, public safety, and infrastructure, the common man was looking for a power change. On top of that, the saffron party targeted Purvanchalis, migrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, to address civic issues. Overall, the AAP had lost its stronghold.
