Kejri-Wall Breached: The 5 Biggest Reasons Behind AAP's Delhi Rout

Delhi Elections: The Bharatiya Janata Party secured a historic mandate in the Delhi polls on Saturday, reclaiming power in the national capital after 27 years by ousting the Aam Aadmi Party. Several AAP leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal , suffered defeats in their strongholds. The BJP has won 45 of Delhi’s 70 seats and is leading on three, while AAP has secured 21 seats and is leading on one. 

With BJP's landslide victory, a pressing question emerges—what led to AAP’s downfall, a party that had once pushed the BJP to single digits in the last election? Why has the Kejriwal-led party suffered such a severe setback, trailing far behind its main rival this time? Key AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal (New Delhi), Manish Sisodia (Jangpura), and Avadh Ojha (Patparganj), faced crushing defeats in their constituencies.   

5 Key Reasons Behind AAP’s Defeat in Delhi

Liquor Policy Scam

AAP’s third term was overshadowed by corruption allegations surrounding its now-defunct liquor policy. The BJP accused the Kejriwal government of encouraging excessive alcohol consumption, pointing to schemes like ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ liquor offers. While AAP repeatedly dismissed these claims, the policy was scrapped within a year of its rollout.

Meanwhile, investigations by central agencies resulted in the arrests of several key AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh . Sisodia’s arrest led to his resignation as Deputy Chief Minister, prompting a cabinet reshuffle. Kejriwal himself was later jailed for five months. With the party constantly on the defensive, much of its third term was spent in damage control, diverting attention from its 2020 election promises.

'Sheesh Mahal' Row

During the election campaign, the BJP repeatedly targeted Arvind Kejriwal over the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy, referring to the costly renovation of the Chief Minister’s official residence. Their claims were backed by a report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India. According to media reports, the renovation was initially estimated to cost ₹7.91 crore. However, when the project was assigned in 2020, the budget increased to ₹8.62 crore. By the time the Public Works Department completed the work in 2022, the cost had surged to ₹33.66 crore.

To defend itself, AAP hit back with the ‘Rajmahal’ argument, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of leading an extravagant lifestyle. Despite this, the BJP’s relentless campaign seemed to strike a chord with voters, especially since AAP had built its image on clean politics and Kejriwal’s promise to end VIP culture.

AAP Congress Split

The absence of an alliance between AAP and Congress played a significant role in the election outcome. In 65 constituencies, Congress candidates failed to secure enough votes to save their deposits, yet their presence still hurt AAP’s prospects. A political analyst noted, "In politics, two plus two doesn’t always make four. The margin of Kejriwal’s defeat, coupled with the votes garnered by Sandeep Dikshit, speaks volumes about the impact of this division."  

Anti-Incumbency

AAP secured landslide victories in the 2015 and 2020 Delhi elections, largely due to its strong track record in healthcare and education. Subsidies on power and water further boosted voter support, while the BJP, despite dominating the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, struggled to gain ground in the Assembly polls.

However, over the years, unmet promises—like tackling Delhi’s worsening air quality—became a growing frustration for residents. While AAP frequently blamed the BJP-led central government for hindering its work, after a decade in power, many voters began seeing these claims as excuses. In contrast, the BJP’s ‘double-engine’ pitch, which emphasized seamless coordination between the state and Centre for better governance, resonated with the electorate, shaping the outcome of the polls.

Fear Tactics Backfire

Arvind Kejriwal and AAP repeatedly warned voters that a BJP-led government would dismantle its welfare schemes. However, the BJP dismissed these claims, assuring the public that all existing programs would continue with greater transparency.

In the final phase of the campaign, AAP also accused BJP-ruled Haryana of contaminating the Yamuna, Delhi’s primary water source. However, political analysts believe these fear-driven narratives backfired, ultimately working in the BJP’s favour.