The bright and sunny morning raised hopes of the Aam Aadmi Party as the early trends indicated a good show, with party workers dancing to drums in hope of returning to power. However, the chirpy ambience soon turned mourning as the afternoon approached and trends indicated a sharp reversal. The workers found it hard to come to terms that the party born out of anti-corruption movement could face a tough future.
Aam Aadmi Party’s dream of a third consecutive term came crashing down since first AAP emerged on the Delhi’s electoral map 12 years ago in 2013. The capital city shifted its preference towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The AAP had even erected a stage in hope of celebrations. But all the preparations for a victory march turned to naught. There were hardly a few workers at the AAP’s office at 1 Ravi Shankar Shukla Marg, where the party had shifted a few months ago. A bunch of party workers settled disappointed in their places; the stage set for AAP leaders remained empty as the big screen behind kept pouring numbers for the BJP.
Back in 2013, when the BJP emerged as the single largest party in Delhi assembly polls, Congress’s support had paved way for Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP to form its first government. The party swept the polls in 2015 and 2020 riding high on Kejriwal’s honest image and slew of social welfare measures like free power, water, mohalla clinicas and bus rides for women.
Before the 2025 Delhi elections, AAP’s image suffered a dent as its leaders including Kejriwal, deputy CM Manish Sisodia and Satyender Jain had to spend months in jail on alleged corruption charges. During the polls, AAP’s image was dented as the results reveal.
During the counting day, the AAP workers witnessed several swings of mood as its key leaders went on to lead during the counting and then to trail. A brief moment of celebration marked Delhi CM Atishi’s win against BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri in Kalkaji, the excitement faded within a couple minutes and the crowd dwindle as AAP’s founder Arvind Kejriwal faced a defeat at the very seat where he had scripted a history.
The dejection had set in when it dawned on everyone that Kejriwal lost the New Delhi constituency to BJP’s Parvesh Sahib Singh. Another setback was former deputy CM Manish Sisodia failing in Jangpura, against BJP’s Tarwinder Singh Marwah.
AAP workers in the party office alleged that BJP influenced Delhi votes by distributing money, clothes, and other things. “The Election Commission did not take any action despite the Model Code of Conduct,” claimed a party worker, Rizwan. Another worker questioned BJP’s lead in Delhi, and said, “They don’t even have a CM face—how come they win?”
Not only the AAP headquarters, Delhi Congress office at Deen Dayal Upadhaya Marg, too, wore a deserted look as the results did not give the party anything to celebrate. With BJP leading almost half the total seats, AAP finished second, while Congress and other parties were left empty-handed.
