AAP Loses Control of Delhi: A Major Political Setback

The decade long rule of AAP came to an end in Delhi yesterday with BJP securing 48 out of 70 seats while AAP could only secure 22 seats. AAP has faced the most devastating defeat as most of its top leadership lost their seats to BJP candidates. AAP 's Chief Arvind Kejriwal 's loss to BJP candidate and unofficial CM face Parvesh Verma represents significant shift in power.

Leadership Collapse

Only Atishi emerged victorious against BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri in Kalkaji out of AAP's nine prominent leaders. Other key leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and former minister Satyendra Jain faced defeat in their constituencies. The party managed to win only 22 seats in the 70-member assembly, with ministers Imran Hussain and Gopal Rai among the few who retained their positions. 

Close Battles and Vote Share 

AAP failed to form government yet showed resilience in several constituencies. About 10 seats were lost by narrow margin of less than 5000 votes. The party's vote share remained competitive with the BJP at 43.5% compared to BJP's 45.8%, suggesting that AAP still maintains substantial public support despite the electoral setback.

AAP's Future Challenges

AAP's defeat raises questions about its political future as its expansion beyond Delhi and Punjab already progressing slowly and now it lost control of capital. However, with 22 MLAs, the party is positioned to serve as a strong opposition force in the Delhi Assembly, maintaining democratic checks and balances.