New Delhi: BJP leaders and supporters celebrate at the party's Delhi state office as the party takes a lead in the Delhi Assembly election vote counting at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, February 08, 2025. (Photo: IANS/Amarjeet Singh)
New Delhi, February 8 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) romped home wresting the national capital from AAP's control on Saturday, decisively defeating the party that governed Delhi since 2013.
The resounding victory of BJP and ignominious defeat for AAP has more meanings than one – first, it marks the end of AAP's era and also a governance model that reverberated across the nation and saw its political footprints expanding beyond the capital. Secondly, it vividly reflects the public mood that the freebies and sops alone can't be a guarantee to win elections.
Thirdly and most importantly, the BJP's landslide victory signifies the party's growing clout in the Hindi heartland. With BJP winning Delhi, this completes BJP's domination in the region including the national capital. The BJP is already in power in states surrounding the capital including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
BJP has been in power in adjoining Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for three and two consecutive terms respectively and snatched power from Congress in Rajasthan in the 2023 elections. Haryana witnessed a turf battle in 2023 as BJP and Congress engaged in a fierce poll battle but it was the former that had the last laugh.
Just a year later, Delhi saw a high-stakes battle with all three AAP, Congress and BJP putting their foot down but it was the latter which outwitted all and stormed to power, after almost three decades.
Interestingly, 48 out of 70 seats where BJP has either won or is ahead, include the border constituencies lining up with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. The city's border constituencies, particularly with Haryana refused to buy AAP's theory of water contamination and water terrorism charge by the adjoining BJP government and voted against its poll rhetoric.
Days ahead of polling, Delhi CM Atishi and AAP office bearers made a scathing attack on the Haryana government, accusing it of "poisoning" the Yamuna river with an intention to "kill" Delhiites. Kejriwal also made a similar pitch, hoping to build resentment among the public against BJP. But, this failed to cut ice and AAP faced the people's ire even in border districts for keeping "theatrics over governance".
AAP government's repeated accusations of the Centre and failure to address the stubble-burning issue in its party ruled Punjab didn't do any good. Kejriwal's repeated charge of stalling projects by Delhi L-G was seen as a "diversionary tactic" and people rather believed that the double-engine government would be key to Delhi's problems.
Kejriwal's impassioned appeal to people after being released from jail, that he would return to the CM post only if the people's court elected him, also didn't move voters. This gambit also failed to yield results.
People saw all these as an exercise to wash their hands of responsibility and went to punish the party, which won more than three-fourths majority twice, first in 2015 and then in 2020.
The BJP, since 2014 has largely enjoyed dominance in North India. However, winning Delhi was beyond its reach despite popular appeal. It was handed over a crushing defeat in both the 2015 and 2020 Assembly elections, at the hands of Kejriwal-led AAP. However, this time, BJP marching to victory with a thumping majority marks an end to its long and anxious wait to be in power in the national capital.
People of Delhi have chosen those who brought Ram: BJP's Navneet Rana after poll victory
BJP leader Navneet Rana celebrated her party's decisive victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, attributing the win to the people's choice of leaders who uphold traditional values. Speaking on the results, she stated, "The people of Delhi have chosen those who brought Ram."
Rana offered heartfelt congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the people of Delhi for the remarkable success in the Delhi Assembly polls.
"I congratulate everyone from the bottom of my heart for the Maha Kumbh and the miracle it has shown in Delhi this time," she said.
"The people of Delhi have rejected Rahul Gandhi, who does not believe in Sanatan Dharam," she claimed.
"They have rejected Kejriwal, who is known for his politics of lies. The voters have shown them their place," she remarked.
Emphasising the importance of Sanatan values, Rana added, "This result shows that the people want a leader who believes in Sanatan ideas, who supports Maha Kumbh, and who will take India's values forward like true Indians. The one who has brought Ram, we will stand with him."
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to the people of Delhi and his appreciation for BJP workers who contributed to the party’s victory.
On social media, he shared, “I am proud of every BJP karyakarta who worked tirelessly, leading to this outstanding result. We will serve the people of Delhi even more vigorously.”
PM Modi emphasised the power of the people’s mandate and the triumph of development and good governance.
"Jana Shakti is paramount! Development wins, good governance triumphs. I bow to the people of Delhi for this historic mandate,” he wrote, pledging continued efforts to transform the national Capital.
In terms of the election results, the BJP is poised for a clear majority in Delhi, leading on 48 seats compared to the AAP's 22. Although the vote share gap between the two parties has narrowed, with BJP holding 44.76 per cent and AAP 43.77 per cent, it seems the BJP will retain control of the national Capital.
