On 8th February 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a landslide victory in Delhi, winning 48 out of 70 Assembly seats. In 2015, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) pulled off an unprecedented victory in the national capital, securing 67 out of 70 seats. At the time, Kejriwal, a relatively new leader, rode on an anti-corruption wave, promising clean governance, which helped the party woo Delhi voters. Since then, Kejriwal had seemed unstoppable, at least in Delhi.
A decade later, AAP is staring at political extinction. The party is now struggling to stay relevant in the very city it once dominated. Since its inception, AAP has contested elections in several states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, but only managed to secure a victory in Punjab, aside from Delhi. Given AAP’s grim political future, it is essential to understand the reasons behind this dramatic decline in Delhi. The answer lies in a mix of misplaced priorities, corruption scandals, and a governance model that relied more on freebies and optics than actual work.
Freebies over real development – The crumbling model
AAP’s core electoral strategy from the beginning has been to promise freebies, free electricity, free water, free bus rides, and even cash handouts. Initially, this strategy helped them win voter support, but in the long run, a freebie-driven government is unsustainable unless it also delivers exceptional governance and development.
By 2025, the cracks in the freebie model were evident. Delhi’s infrastructure remained stagnant. The promised hospitals, colleges, schools, and clinics never materialised beyond mere words. Roads across Delhi remained in disrepair despite lofty claims of international standards. Government hospitals faced shortages, and promised schools were never built.
Once a surplus economy, Delhi is now struggling with rising debt, as Kejriwal’s government failed to generate the necessary revenue to run the state. Meanwhile, unprecedented amounts were spent on advertisements, leaving many Delhiites shocked at the misallocation of funds. In November last year, just ahead of Assembly Elections, Delhi Government sought a loan of Rs 10,000 crores from the Centre.
Yamuna remains filthy – The unfulfilled promise of a clean river
One of the biggest promises of AAP’s 2015 campaign was to clean the Yamuna river. Kejriwal’s government launched multiple campaigns, reportedly spent crores, and made grand declarations with repeated deadlines, but ultimately failed to deliver. Even by 2025, the river remains as polluted as ever.
The worst part? AAP keeps blaming the Centre and neighbouring states for the delay. With untreated sewage continuing to flow into the river, Kejriwal’s tall claims about a clean Yamuna have become an object of ridicule. This failure severely eroded trust, particularly among Delhi’s middle-class voters, who had initially supported AAP for its promise of ‘honest governance’. Voters saw through the excuses this time and decisively rejected the AAP-led government.
Sheeshmahal controversy – The leader who lost the ‘aam aadmi’ touch
At the start of his political career, Kejriwal projected the image of a simple, humble leader, wearing his signature muffler and travelling in a WagonR. He promised never to accept a government bungalow, security cover, or luxury cars.
However, that image crumbled over time. Kejriwal began travelling in luxury vehicles, often with a long convoy of cars. His WagonR vanished, his security detail increased every year, and when AAP came to power in Punjab, additional security was provided by the Punjab Police for reasons unknown, until the Election Commission revoked it.
Then came the infamous ‘Sheeshmahal’ controversy. Kejriwal’s government spent over ₹45 crore renovating his residence with luxury fittings, even as Delhi faced budget constraints. The renovation, funded with public money, took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, making it even more indefensible.
This extravagance was seen as hypocrisy of the highest order. A leader who once mocked ‘lal batti’ culture had now embraced the very opulence he once opposed. For many former supporters, this was the final betrayal, confirming that AAP had become just another party indulging in the excesses it once criticised.
Liquor scam – Corruption charges that AAP could not escape
The biggest blow to AAP’s credibility came from the Delhi Liquor Scam. The alleged irregularities in the liquor policy, which led to multiple arrests, including that of AAP’s top leaders, exposed the deep-rooted corruption within the party. Kejriwal’s attempts to deflect blame failed miserably, especially as senior leaders like Manish Sisodia faced legal action.
To make matters worse, the original complaint in the case was filed by Congress, AAP’s occasional alliance partner. This made it almost impossible for AAP to label it a BJP-led vendetta. Meanwhile, BJP capitalised on the scandal, repeatedly reminding voters of Kejriwal’s ‘moral high ground’ collapsing under corruption charges. As a result, even AAP’s core support base eroded, as evident in the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 results.
The road ahead – Can AAP recover?
AAP’s decline from a dominant force to a party struggling for relevance is a cautionary tale. Over-reliance on freebies, lack of long-term development, corruption scandals, and an increasing disconnect with voters have all contributed to its downfall.
At this point, a recovery seems nearly impossible for Kejriwal, unless he finds a way to govern another state, and quickly. One possibility? Bhagwant Mann stepping down and offering Kejriwal the Chief Ministership of Punjab.
After all, as former AAP leader Kumar Vishwas once claimed, Kejriwal’s real dream was to become the PM of ‘Khalistan’, perhaps his ambitions still lie in that direction!
