One of the most significant takeaways from AAP’s humiliating defeat is the severe blow to Arvind Kejriwal’s political stature. Once positioning himself as the primary challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi while attempting to weaken Congress, Kejriwal has now suffered a crushing setback, undermining his credibility and casting a shadow over his political future. The magnitude of AAP’s defeat serves as poetic justice for Congress, repaying Kejriwal for his past manoeuvrings. His decision to contest 89 seats in Haryana, where 87 candidates lost their deposits, ultimately aided the BJP by fragmenting the opposition vote and damaging Congress’ prospects.

Like in Haryana and Maharashtra, the well-oiled RSS machinery played a decisive role in the historical victory of BJP in Delhi polls, orchestrating over 50,000 meetings to turn the tide in the saffron party’s favour. The BJP had already felt the painful impact of the Sangh’s disengagement during the Lok Sabha elections, where it fell short of the 272-seat majority, forcing it to rely on alliance partners to form the government.

Modi's Personal Appeal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains the BJP’s strongest electoral asset. His leadership, credibility, and mass appeal—especially among middle and lower-income voters—played a decisive role in BJP’s Delhi triumph. Welfare schemes like free ration under PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana bolstered his image as a pro-poor leader, reassuring voters about governance stability. Modi’s personal brand, his guarantee to fulfill promises, and his ability to steer the party to electoral victories remain BJP’s primary strengths. In his characteristic sarcastic style, Modi mocked Congress' rout, declaring that the party had achieved a "double hat-trick of defeats with zero seats," underlining its continued........

© Free Press Journal