Monday | February 10, 2025
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), secured a decisive victory in the elections for Delhi’s legislative assembly on Saturday, marking the first time in 27 years that the party has taken control of the capital’s government. This win dealt a significant blow to one of Modi’s most vocal critics, Arvind Kejriwal, and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), while also providing a crucial political boost for the BJP after it lost its outright majority in India’s national parliament last year.
The BJP clinched 48 out of the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly, according to figures released by the Indian Election Commission. This was a stark reversal of fortunes for the AAP, which had dominated Delhi’s political landscape for nearly a decade but managed to secure only 22 seats in the latest elections.
Following the BJP’s win, Modi expressed his gratitude and optimism in a post on social media platform X, stating: “Development wins, good governance triumphs. I bow to my dear sisters and brothers of Delhi for this resounding and historic mandate.”
Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister, acknowledged his party’s defeat and extended congratulations to the BJP. In a video statement, he said: “We accept the mandate of the people with great humility. I congratulate the BJP for this victory, and I hope they will fulfill all the promises for which people have voted them.”
A Major Shift in Delhi’s Political Landscape
Delhi, a sprawling megacity of nearly 20 million residents, has been a longstanding challenge for the BJP’s electoral machinery, even as the party has expanded its dominance across much of India over the past decade. The capital city has remained an outlier, with the AAP securing back-to-back victories in 2015 and 2020 by campaigning on issues such as free electricity, improved healthcare, and better education. The last time the BJP held power in Delhi was in 1998, making this victory a historic and significant achievement for Modi’s party.
Delhi’s electorate faces pressing challenges, including inadequate access to affordable housing, traffic congestion, and severe air pollution that blankets the city in toxic smog for months each year. The BJP’s return to power raises expectations for how the new administration will tackle these longstanding urban issues.
Kejriwal’s Legal Troubles and National Political Context
The election outcome comes amid an ongoing political battle between the BJP and AAP, intensified by corruption allegations against Kejriwal. The AAP leader was arrested just before the 2024 general elections on graft charges related to an alleged liquor policy scandal. Kejriwal and his party have vehemently denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated and orchestrated by the BJP to weaken its opposition. Modi’s government, however, has consistently rejected claims of political interference in the case.
The arrest sparked international attention, with the U.S. State Department urging Indian authorities to ensure a fair legal process, a statement that led to diplomatic tensions between Washington and New Delhi.
Despite securing a historic third term as Prime Minister in the general elections last year—becoming the first Indian leader since Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve such a feat—Modi’s BJP suffered an electoral setback as voters denied the party an outright majority. As a result, the BJP now governs India, a nation of 1.4 billion people, through a coalition government.
Implications of BJP’s Victory in Delhi
The BJP’s triumph in Delhi not only strengthens its political grip in a key urban center but also sends a strong signal ahead of upcoming state elections. The win provides momentum for the party as it seeks to solidify its dominance at both the state and national levels.
For Kejriwal and the AAP, the loss marks a significant challenge, potentially weakening their influence and ability to position themselves as a formidable opposition force against Modi’s BJP. The party will now have to regroup and reassess its strategy as it faces an emboldened BJP in future electoral battles.
As the BJP assumes power in Delhi, all eyes will be on how the new government addresses the city’s urgent issues, fulfills its campaign promises, and navigates the broader political landscape in a rapidly evolving India.