The BJP’s massive victory in the Delhi Assembly elections has not only ended AAP’s decade-long rule but also led to the downfall of several key leaders of the party. Five top AAP figures, including national convener Arvind Kejriwal and his close aide Manish Sisodia, suffered crushing defeats as BJP improved its tally by nearly 40 seats.
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s founder and three-time Chief Minister, lost to BJP’s Parvesh Verma in New Delhi. Kejriwal, once the face of the anti-corruption movement, had stepped down last year after his arrest in a corruption case linked to Delhi’s liquor policy. He had vowed to return only if the “people’s court” ruled in his favor, but the election results suggest otherwise.
Manish Sisodia, AAP’s former Deputy Chief Minister and one of the most influential figures in the party, faced defeat in Jangpura against BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah. Previously an MLA from Patparganj, Sisodia had shifted constituencies for this election. His legal troubles, stemming from the same liquor policy case, saw him spend over a year in jail before being granted bail.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, a senior AAP minister and three-time MLA from Greater Kailash, was seen as a stronghold candidate for the party. However, BJP’s Shikha Roy managed to flip the seat, reflecting a major voter shift.
Durgesh Pathak, a key strategist in AAP’s leadership, lost the Rajinder Nagar seat to BJP’s Umang Bajaj. Despite having won the seat in a 2022 by-election, he failed to hold onto it in this election.
Satyendra Jain, another former Delhi minister, lost in Shakur Basti to BJP’s Karnail Singh. Jain, arrested in a corruption case in 2022, had previously held the seat for two consecutive terms.
The election results highlight a significant political shift in Delhi, with BJP not only returning to power but also dismantling AAP’s top leadership.