New Delhi (16.02.2025): When Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) replaced the Congress government in Delhi, there was a paradigm shift in the city’s politics which was replaced by the politics of personality from the politics of ideology. But in 2025 Assembly election, the wheel has completed a full circle with the BJP, which has out-and-out ideological mooring, romping home with a handsome majority.
What lies ahead for Kejriwal?
If Delhi election results have answered the question who in Delhi, it has left the city with couple of other questions such as what will happen to Arvind Kejriwal who lost even his own election and what awaits the next for the Congress which managed to increase its vote percentage. Congress' improved performance is being talked about as one of the main reasons for the victory of the BJP. Interestingly, the future of all the three political parties in Delhi is inter-linked as action of or on one would impact the other. There is no ambiguity that AAP’s political success or failure is tied around Kejriwal which got a serious beating in Delhi. Despite bailed out to campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections and out of jail during 2025 Assembly elections even after resigning as the CM, AAP failed to secure power in Delhi.
A tight rope walk to keep AAP and Cong at bay
Kejriwal is on bail for liquor scam case. Will the BJP government try to send him jail again to finish him politically forever. There are split opinions on this as a section in the BJP feels that sending him jail may get him people’s sympathy as he still commands support of 42 per cent Delhiites. This is where Kejriwal is very good at utilising the situation. Moreover, the way Congress has contested Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP would certainly not want it to emerge as a challenge to it any time in the future. How to achieve all this? This needs a tight rope walk but the first step could be to put credibility of Kejriwal in doubt after some interval of the time.
AAP to face resource crunch
The BJP would like Kejriwal not to become relevant in Delhi politics again and not to remain irrelevant either. With resource crunch after losing power in Delhi and the Punjab government not fully cooperating with him, he is already in soup. The leverage of managing media has gone from the AAP after defeat in Delhi and the BJP will now be on the driving seat. The media multiplier effect that the BJP is very good at and a double engine government will certainly give it definite edge.
Congress leaders lack charisma
With the charisma missing from the Congress leadership which is taking up such political issues that are harming party the more than helping it. The party understands sooner the better that philosophical issues don’t win elections. The ruling dispensation will in all likelihood keep Kejriwal out of jail to put a check on the Congress. The moment the BJP feels that Congress and AAP may join hands to take on the saffron outfit, the BJP may change its strategy to send Kejriwal behind bars. When the LG ordered sealing Delhi secretariate till the next government takes over, it was a clear indication that he does not want evidence to be tempered with. More skeletons are expected to come out of cupboard after the new government takes over in the city.
Kejriwal still relevant for the BJP
Kejriwal is decisively defeated by the BJP in Delhi but his utility is still not over for the party. Sending him jail may revive the Congress in Punjab where the BJP doesn’t stand any chance like Kerala. Why would the BJP in any case want revival of the Congress in Punjab? No question at all because this may give the Congress much needed solace and lease of life. Political analysts say that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann listens more to Amit Shah than Kejriwal of late who may provide him funds to run Punjab in a better way. This situation suits the BJP where the Punjab government is tamed, Arvind Kejriwal is in liquid oxygen and Congress is crippled.
(By Vinod Kumar Shukla)
