By Om Prakash Dwivedi
The BJP has returned to power in Delhi after 26 years, securing 45.56% of the vote share in the assembly elections. It won 48 out of 70 seats, reducing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to just 22. This marks a dramatic fall for a party that once championed socialism but seemingly shifted towards self-serving interests.
It was a landslide victory for the BJP, further underscored by the colossal defeat of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his close aide, Manish Sisodia. With this loss, Kejriwal’s decade-long grip on the national capital has come to an end.
The fact that both Kejriwal and Sisodia failed to win their seats signifies the collapse of the so-called “Kejriwal model” and the diminishing appeal of AAP’s socialist agenda. While the party campaigned on its achievements in education and healthcare, Kejriwal’s declining public image overshadowed his policies. His perceived wrongdoings ultimately mattered more than his governance.
From being the ‘muffler man’—a symbol of simplicity—to the owner of a lavish “Sheesh Mahal” in the heart of Delhi, Kejriwal’s transformation damaged his credibility. History has shown that socialist parties are not immune to corruption, and AAP, which set out to redefine socialism in India, ultimately fell prey to the same VIP culture it once opposed.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report further exposed AAP’s contradictions. Initially, the renovation of Kejriwal’s official residence was estimated at ₹7.91 crore. By 2020, this cost had risen to ₹8.62 crore, and when the Public Works Department completed the project in 2022, expenses had skyrocketed to ₹33.66 crore. This starkly contrasted with Kejriwal’s self-styled image as a champion of the common people. The so-called “Kejriwal model” seemingly shifted from public welfare to personal extravagance, underestimating the electorate’s ability to see through the façade.
But the controversy didn’t stop there. The man who came to power on an anti-corruption platform became embroiled in a multi-crore liquor scam, leading to the imprisonment of his deputy, Manish Sisodia. Further financial irregularities plagued his tenure, culminating in Kejriwal’s arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in March 2024 on money laundering charges linked to the excise policy. While AAP supporters decried political vendetta, his alleged links to corruption were hard to ignore. As Al Jazeera reported, “What once started as a people’s movement had now fizzled into a mere political party,” with political analyst Neelanjan Sircar observing that “Kejriwal is perhaps just a politician now, and once that shine wears off, the core voters’ affiliation is weakened.”
Another factor in AAP’s downfall was its inconsistent stance on Congress. Kejriwal had previously positioned both BJP and Congress as part of the same corrupt system but later softened his position. His wife, Sunita Kejriwal, even campaigned alongside Sonia Gandhi at the INDIA Alliance rally in March 2024. This shift confused and alienated AAP’s core supporters, who saw little difference between the two parties.
Kejriwal’s downfall exemplifies the rise of post-ideological politics, where ideology is merely a tool for acquiring power. Once in power, personal ambitions take precedence over principles, and socialism becomes entangled with corrupt and opportunistic leadership.
AAP’s dramatic decline—from winning 62 seats in the 2020 assembly elections to just 22 in 2024—calls for serious introspection. If the party hopes to recover, it needs fresh leadership and a genuine commitment to its foundational principles. For now, the so-called “Kejriwal model” appears to have been sacrificed at the altar of personal ambition.
Contributing Author: Prof. Om Prakash Dwivedi is a literary critic and columnist.
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
