NEW DELHI: Delhi has given its verdict and its ‘ghar wapsi’ for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) after 27 years. According to the Election Commission, the BJP has 47 of a total of 70 seats in its bag. Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, which has ruled the union territory for a decade, managed to get only 23 seats.
This marks the third major win for the BJP in the last four months after Haryana and Maharashtra assembly elections.
Delhi Election Results 2025
Here’s a look at why the BJP registered a comfortable win in Delhi:
1. Anti-incumbency of AAP govt
The Aam Aadmi Party, established in 2012, secured governance in Delhi in 2013 and had maintained its administrative control since 2015.
The Kejriwal/Atishi government, however, failed to fight anti-incumbency. AAP’s recognition of public dissatisfaction was evident in its selection of candidates.
Despite making eleventh-hour alterations to the list, these changes proved insufficient to address the negative perception of certain MLAs, who were criticised for being unreachable and distant from their constituents.
2. Budget, focus on the middle class
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Union budget gambit seems to have paid off as Delhi decided to give BJP a chance after 27 years. With a focus on the middle class, the Union finance minister announced a big tax relief to middle class just three days before the Delhi elections.
| Total Income (IN Rs LAKH) | Rate of tax u/s 115BAC(1A) |
| 0-4 | NIL |
| 4-8 | 5% |
| 8-12 | 10% |
| 12-16 | 15% |
| 16-20 | 20% |
| 20-24 | 25% |
| More than 24 Lakh | 30% |
Kejriwal’s AAP had emerged from middle-class dissatisfaction with existing political systems but is now largely perceived as an organisation focused solely on underprivileged sections, offering benefits like complimentary electricity units and free transport for women.
Although Kejriwal attempted to address middle class issues during his pre-election addresses, these efforts appeared insufficient and delayed.
3. Freebies/continuation of AAP schemes
Since 2013, Kejriwal’s AAP government has been able to establish ‘Delhi model’ in which it implemented several freebies/welfare schemes for the underprivileged. The BJP, however, did an Uno reverse on AAP in Delhi and announced several freebies and incentives.
The BJP leadership, including PM Modi, while previously criticising welfare programmes as ‘revadis’, took a notably different stance in Delhi. They explicitly assured voters that all existing AAP government schemes would continue under BJP rule. The PM’s personal guarantee on this matter carried significant authority and effectively countered AAP’s assertions that BJP governance would deprive the underprivileged of their current benefits.
The party, in its three-part manifesto, promised financial assistance of Rs 2,500 monthly to women from poor families under ‘Mahila Samriddhi Yojana’, LPG cylinders for Rs 500 to women from poor families, and one free cylinder each on Holi and Diwali.
4. Double-engine government
After years of blame-game by the Kejriwal government, it seems people of Delhi have had enough. This time, Delhi decided to go for a “double-engine sarkaar”, which promises effective governance with the BJP government in the state and at the Centre.
During the elections led by PM Modi, the BJP went all out to attack Kejriwal for non-governance in the last decade. Kejriwal, on the other hand, had time and again blamed the Centre and the LG for creating hurdles. The AAP also attributed the deteriorating road conditions and inadequate civic infrastructure to project delays caused by the LG.
The voters appear to have concluded that a BJP-led government would operate more effectively with the Centre-appointed LG.
5. Rahul Gandhi’s Kejriwal roast
A big credit for the BJP’s win in Delhi could also be given to Rahul Gandhi. The Congress leader took upon himself to personally roast and attack Kejriwal.
During the campaign, he singled out Kejriwal and even equated him with PM Modi, alleging that they were two sides of the same coin. Taking a direct jab at the AAP supremo, Rahul had said, “Arvind Kejriwal WagonR mein aaye, sweater pehne aur khambe pe chadh gaye. Phir khambe se utre aur seedha sheesh Mahal mein gaye (Arvind Kejriwal came in a small car—a WagonR—wearing a sweater and climbed an electric pole. After coming down, he went straight to the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ (glass palace) with automatic doors and big TVs)”.
6. Corruption charges on Kejriwal, AAP ministers
The AAP had secured governance by pledging to eliminate corruption in Delhi. The party’s reputation, however, faced significant challenges due to the liquor policy controversy and various corruption allegations against its leadership.
Prominent AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Sanjay Singh have been at the centre of corruption charges.
After getting out on bail, Kejriwal resigned from the CM post and gave the charge to Atishi. He had sought validation as ‘Mr. Clean’ from the voters. Delhi, however, decided to not give him another chance.
7. Unclean Yamuna and air pollution
In 2020, reducing Delhi air pollution was one of the 10 “guarantees of Kejriwal”. However, this year, “Kejriwal’s guarantee” did not mention pollution anywhere. In the last 10 years, the AAP government has pointed fingers at neighbouring states and refused to take responsibility for air pollution.
The BJP, however, vowed to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by half in the next five years.
Targetting Kejriwal, BJP also promised to clean Yamuna water in the next five years.
8. PM Modi’s ‘AAPda’ sticks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again proved to be the star campaigner for the BJP. Despite having no CM face in Delhi, BJP registers yet another win in assembly elections riding on PM Modi’s popularity. During the election campaign, PM Modi personally took charge of targeting Arvind Kejriwal.
True to his style, PM Modi started calling Kejriwal’s party an ‘AAPda’ (disaster) for Delhi. He also took ‘Farziwal’ jibes at Kejriwal accusing him of being fake and corrupt.
In fact, PM Modi also focused on attacking Kejriwal during his Lok Sabha speech a day before Delhi elections.
9. Tailored message for Delhi
During the Delhi assembly elections, the BJP tailored its message and underplayed Hindutva this time. Focussing on the anti-incumbency of Kejriwal, BJP focussed on governance and middle class.
Much of the BJP campaign targetted Kejriwal who, along with Manish Sisodia, was jailed in a corruption case relating to a now-scrapped liquor policy over the past two years. The relentless focus on Kejriwal’s “sheesh mahal” may have also helped the BJP sway public opinion in favour of the party.
10. Cong vs AAP fight
The BJP has won Delhi elections, but it also has Congress to thank. Congress and AAP, allies under INDIA bloc, decided to contest the Delhi assembly elections individually. During the campaign, both AAP and Congress accused each other of being the B team of the BJP.
Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi opened a personal attack on Kejriwal while the AAP chief also left no stone unturned to discredit Congress. Eventually, though Congress was not able to open its account in Delhi, the Gandhis definitely dealt a big blow to the credibility of Kejriwal.
Check out the latest news about Delhi Election Results, including key constituencies such as New Delhi, Kalkaji, Jangpura, Okhla, Patparganj, Ballimaran, Madipur, Hari Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Tri Nagar, Sultanpur Majra, Wazirpur and Gandhi Nagar.