After a wait of 27 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has regained power in the national capital with a landslide victory, dethroning the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). The BJP secured 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP was reduced to 22 seats. The Congress, for the third consecutive term, failed to win even a single seat.
The election results sent shockwaves across Delhi as almost all AAP cabinet members, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj, and senior leader Satyendar Jain, lost their seats.
Also read: Delhi Assembly election 2025: How Purvanchali votes became dominant factor in AAP’s defeat
Kejriwal was defeated by BJP’s Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma by 4,089 votes in the New Delhi seat, while Sisodia lost by a mere 675 votes to Tarvinder Singh Marwah in Jangpura. The BJP won the New Delhi Assembly seat for the first time since its inception following the 2008 delimitation.
Sisodia’s seat was changed by the party due to anti-incumbency; he previously contested from Patparganj. Notably, BJP ended a 32-year-long jinx by securing this seat in the 2025 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, BJP’s Shikha Roy defeated Bhardwaj in Greater Kailash by 3,188 votes, while Jain lost by 20,998 votes against Karnail Singh in Shakurpur Bhasti.
For the first time since AAP’s inception, the BJP won the Greater Kailash seat, where Bharadwaj had a stronghold for three terms. The Shakurpur Bhasti seat reflected a similar trend. Other senior AAP leaders, including Durgesh Pathak and Somnath Bharti, also faced defeat.
BJP dominates Purvanchali seats and makes a comeback in reserved seats
The party also made significant inroads into the 12 Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved constituencies, which AAP had swept in both 2015 and 2020. This time, AAP won only eight of these, while BJP claimed four.
These SC constituencies include Sultan Pur Majra, Mangol Puri, Karol Bagh, Patel Nagar, Madipur, Deoli, Ambedkar Nagar, Trilokpuri, Kondli, Seemapuri, Gokalpur, and Bawana. Out of these, AAP emerged victorious from Sultanpur Majra, Karol Bagh, Ambedkar Nagar, Kondli, Patel Nagar, Gokalpur, Seemapuri, and Deoli, while BJP won the remaining four.
Significantly, the saffron party secured victory in Mustafabad, one of Delhi’s seven Muslim-dominated seats, while AAP won the remaining six, including Ballimaran, Seelampur, Babarpur, Okhla, Chandni Chowk, and Matia Mahal. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), BJP secured 45.56% of votes, AAP 43.57%, and Congress 6.34%. This marked a major decline in AAP’s vote share from 53.57% in 2020, while BJP saw a rise from 38.51% in the previous election.
Also read: Delhi Assembly Election 2025: BJP sweeps Delhi; celebrations erupt as party secures historic victory
BJP’s office turns into a celebration ground
The BJP office in Delhi erupted in celebration as supporters waved saffron flags, chanted ‘Modi, Modi’ and ‘Jai Shri Ram’, and lit crackers. Holi colours and dhol beats marked the party’s victory mood. Some supporters arrived in costumes—two dressed as Yogi Adityanath, while another mimicked Aamir Khan’s PK character, symbolising Delhi’s shift towards the BJP.
Senior leaders, including national president JP Nadda, state president Virendra Sachdeva, national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, and Kuljeet Singh Chahal, joined the celebrations. BJP supporter Ashutosh Khurana remarked, “After years of deception by AAP, Delhiites have finally chosen a government that will work for them.”
Many cited AAP’s failure to clear landfill sites and provide clean water as reasons for the shift in support.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the party headquarters in the evening, addressing jubilant supporters amid loud chants ‘Modi, Modi’. Highlighting the role of the Purvanchali community in their victory in the national capital, Modi thanked Purvanchali voters on Saturday, greeting them with “Yamuna Maiya Ki Jai.”
Also read: Delhi elections: BJP’s Kailash Gahlot defeats AAP’s Surender Bharadwaj to retain Bijwasan seat
The PM said at the public meeting at the BJP headquarters: “Wherever I went in this election, I used to say with pride that I am an MP from Purvanchal. The people of Purvanchal gave love, trust, new energy, and new strength. Therefore, as an MP from Purvanchal, I especially thank the people of Purvanchal.”
Criticising AAP, he said, “The people’s mandate has shown those who consider themselves the ‘owners of Delhi’ who the real rulers are.”
He further said, “Delhi is a mini-India, home to people from across the country. Every community and language-speaking resident has chosen the lotus symbol, giving BJP a clear majority.” Modi promised extensive development across the capital.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah wrote on X, “Delhiites have shown that the public cannot be misled by repeated false promises.” BJP National President JP Nadda added, “AAP misled people in the name of education. These elections have sent a clear message—Delhi no longer wants such a party.”
AAP Concedes Defeat
The AAP headquarters wore a sombre look, reflecting the party’s drastic decline. Entry was restricted, and even Punjab faction leaders were asked to remain silent. A scaffolding set up for victory celebrations collapsed, metaphorically reflecting AAP’s struggles.
In a video conference, Kejriwal conceded defeat, saying, “We respect the people’s mandate,” and congratulated BJP. He added, “We hope they fulfil the promises that earned them this trust.”
Atishi, addressing the media, acknowledged the loss but vowed to continue fighting against the BJP’s policies. Sisodia remarked, “People have supported us, but I lost by 600 votes. I congratulate the winner and hope he will work for the constituency.”
Congress Continues Decline
For the third consecutive time, the Congress party failed to win a single seat. Its headquarters at Indira Bhawan remained deserted. Since 2013, when it last won eight seats, Congress has been absent from the Delhi Assembly.
Senior Congress leaders, including Sandeep Dikshit, Abhishek Dutt, Farhad Suri, and Anil Chaudhary, lost to BJP candidates. In some constituencies, Congress finished fourth, trailing even the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge admitted defeat, writing on X, “We created an atmosphere against the government in the public interest, but the public did not give us the mandate as expected.” Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi echoed the sentiment. “We humbly accept the mandate of Delhi,” he said.
Also read: Delhi Assembly Election 2025: BJP’s OP Sharma clinches fourth consecutive victory from Vishwas Nagar
BJP’s next Chief Minister?
With BJP set to form the Delhi government, speculation is mounting over the next Chief Minister. State president Virendra Sachdeva stated that the central leadership would decide.
Key contenders:
- Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma: Defeated Arvind Kejriwal, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma.
- Vijender Gupta: Former Delhi BJP chief and three-time Rohini MLA.
- Satish Upadhyay: Prominent Brahmin face, former state BJP president.
- Ashish Sood: Strong Punjabi community leader.
- Jitendra Mahajan: Three-time MLA from Rohtas Nagar with strong RSS ties.
- Om Prakash Sharma: Veteran BJP MLA from Vishwas Nagar.
The BJP went to the polls without declaring its chief ministerial candidate. Now that the party has returned to power after 27 years on the back of so many leaders, picking one person to lead the party will be a tough call.
