The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reclaimed power in Delhi after 27 years, ending the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long rule. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the victory a mandate for development and good governance, praising BJP leaders and workers for the win.
The BJP won 48 seats out of 70 in the elections held on February 5, reducing the incumbent AAP to just 22 seats from the 62 it had in the previous Assembly.
“Jana Shakti is paramount! Development wins, good governance triumphs,” PM Modi said in a post on X, adding , “I am very grateful to all of you from the bottom of my heart for the abundant blessings and love you have given.”
AAP suffered a major setback, with former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, and senior leader Saurabh Bharadwaj were among those who lost their seats.
Despite AAP’s early campaign lead, BJP’s strategy – centered on Modi’s popularity and targeted outreach – helped it secure a win. The party assured voters that popular welfare schemes like free bus rides would continue while also addressing concerns over pollution and governance.
AAP’s campaign took a hit in April 2024 when key leaders, including Kejriwal, were jailed, disrupting their election efforts. Internal frustration grew, especially after the party’s poor performance in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections. The BJP also capitalized on issues like the expensive renovation of Kejriwal’s residence and governance failures, including erratic water supply and stalled projects. The ongoing power tussle between AAP and the Lieutenant Governor further added to voter dissatisfaction.
With this victory, the BJP is set to form the next government in Delhi, marking a major political shift in the national capital.
CM Rio, Patton congratulates
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has congratulated BJP on winning the Delhi assembly elections. In a social media post, Rio said that the victory reflects people’s trust in the vision and leadership of the party. Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda, Rio said that under their leadership, a new era of development has begun. Senior BJP leader and Nagaland Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton also congratulated each and every BJP karyakarta for the historic victory of BJP in the Delhi assembly election. Patton said that BJP’s win is an achievement 27 years in the making.
Focus shifts to CM pick
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has made a resounding comeback in Delhi, securing a decisive victory in the 2025 Assembly elections after a 27-year gap. The Election Commission of India (ECI) confirmed that the BJP won 42 out of 70 seats, pushing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) down to just 28 seats.
In a major political upset, BJP leader Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma defeated former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the prestigious New Delhi constituency, delivering a significant blow to AAP. Meanwhile, outgoing Chief Minister Atishi secured a victory in Kalkaji, defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri by over 3,000 votes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the BJP’s triumph as a win for “development, vision, and trust,” adding that the people of Delhi rejected corruption and theatrics in favor of governance. This landslide victory marks a major shift in Delhi’s political landscape, with BJP now controlling close to 50 seats, compared to AAP’s previous dominance.
Modi directly criticized AAP, highlighting corruption scandals involving top leaders. He said, ”The party which was born out of a movement against corruption, found themselves getting drowned in corruption… Their Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and ministers went to jail.” He also targeted the Congress, labeling it a “parasite party” that brings down its allies.
With BJP securing victories in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, Modi emphasized the benefits of a “double-engine government” that would focus on issues like pollution control, sewage management, and Yamuna River cleanup. He also assured that promises made to women would be fulfilled.
As BJP celebrates its victory, the focus now shifts to the Chief Minister’s appointment. Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, who defeated Kejriwal, is a strong contender, given that the New Delhi seat has historically been held by previous Chief Ministers. However, BJP has shortlisted five potential candidates, taking caste and regional considerations into account.
Among them is Satish Upadhyay, a Brahmin leader with extensive administrative experience in Delhi. His tenure as Vice Chairman of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation strengthens his credentials. Another contender, Ashish Sood, represents the Punjabi community and has a strong background in Delhi’s political and student leadership circles.
Additionally, Jitendra Mahajan and Vijender Gupta, both from the Vaishya community, are being considered. Gupta, a three-time MLA from Rohini, has previously served as the Leader of Opposition and enjoys strong RSS backing.
Kejriwal, Atishi, Rahul Gandhi accept defeat
After a stunning loss to the BJP, Arvind Kejriwal said he humbly accepts the people’s verdict. The AAP chief, who lost his own New Delhi seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by over 4,000 votes, insisted that his party entered politics to serve, not for power.
“We accept the people’s verdict. The decision is paramount. I congratulate the BJP and hope they live up to people’s expectations,” Kejriwal said. Despite the defeat, he vowed to continue working in the social sector, emphasizing AAP’s achievements in education, health, and infrastructure over the past decade.
The loss was a major setback for AAP, which was reduced to just 22 seats from its dominant 62-seat victory in 2020. Other senior leaders, including former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, also lost their seats. However, Atishi, who took over as Chief Minister last year, retained her Kalkaji seat.
Speaking after her victory, Atishi called the election result a “setback” but pledged to keep fighting the BJP. “I have won, but this is not the time to celebrate. We must continue our war against the BJP,” she said.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also acknowledged his party’s failure, accepting the mandate “with humility.” The Congress, which failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive election, saw its vote share contribute to the AAP’s defeat. In 11 constituencies, Congress votes exceeded the BJP’s margin of victory, highlighting how an alliance could have changed the outcome.
With the BJP securing 48 seats, the party is set to return to power in Delhi after 27 years, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling it a victory for “development and good governance.”
6 Candidates Get Single-Digit Votes
Six candidates from the New Delhi constituency secured single-digit votes in the assembly elections, all representing smaller parties. The lowest was Bharatrastra Democratic Party’s Iswar Chand, with just four votes. Bhim Sena’s Sangha Nand Bauddh, Rashtrawadi Janlok Party’s Mukesh Jain, and Rashtriya Manav Party’s Nitya Nand Singh each received eight votes, while independents Haider Ali and Pankaj Sharma got nine votes each.
Turncoats Help BJP’s Big Win
BJP’s turncoats from AAP and Congress played a key role in its massive Delhi victory after 27 years. Congress leader Arvinder Singh Lovely won Gandhi Nagar by over 12,000 votes, while AAP’s Kailash Gahlot secured Bijwasan by 11,000 votes. Former Congress MLA Tarwinder Singh Marwah defeated ex-Deputy CM Manish Sisodia. Kartar Singh Tanwar (ex-AAP) won Chhattarpur, and Manjinder Singh Sirsa (ex-Akali Dal) secured Rajouri Garden. However, ex-AAP minister Raaj Kumar Anand trailed in Patel Nagar. Over 40 candidates switched sides before the elections. BJP leads in over 45 of Delhi’s 70 seats, with AAP trailing at 20-plus. (With inputs from agencies)