Prashant Kishor on AAP’s Loss in the Delhi Election
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has faced a major defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has achieved a significant victory in the capital. Reacting to the election results, Jan Suraj Party chief and election strategist Prashant Kishor commented on the reasons behind Arvind Kejriwal’s party’s defeat.
Kishor expressed the opinion that Kejriwal’s resignation as Chief Minister after securing bail in the liquor policy scam case was a critical mistake, which cost the party heavily.
“Kejriwal’s shifting political stance in recent years, such as his decision to join the INDIA alliance but contest the Delhi elections alone, also contributed to AAP’s poor performance,” Prashant Kishor told India Today TV.
“The first reason for AAP’s massive defeat in Delhi is the anti-incumbency sentiment of the last 10 years. The second, and perhaps AAP’s biggest mistake, was Kejriwal’s resignation. He should have stepped down after his arrest in the liquor policy case. However, appointing someone else as the Chief Minister after getting bail, and that too on the eve of the elections, was a major strategic blunder,” said Kishor.
BJP’s Victory and AAP’s Decline
With a landslide victory, the BJP has returned to power in Delhi after 27 years, winning 48 out of 70 seats. AAP, which had won 62 seats in 2020 and 67 in 2015, could secure only 22 seats this time. The Congress, on the other hand, failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive time.
Reasons for Kejriwal’s Defeat
Kishor also stated that the main reason for voter dissatisfaction was Kejriwal’s inconsistent political decisions.
“His erratic behavior, such as first aligning with the INDIA alliance and then withdrawing from it, has damaged his credibility. Additionally, his administration’s handling of key issues in recent years has been unimpressive,” he added.
He also pointed out administrative failures in Delhi. According to Kishor, the difficulties faced by citizens in low-lying areas, particularly during last year’s monsoon, played a crucial role in AAP’s defeat.
“The suffering endured by people, especially slum dwellers, has exposed flaws in the administration and significantly weakened Kejriwal’s governance model,” he said.
Focus on Gujarat
Kishor suggested that this defeat presents an opportunity for Kejriwal to shift his focus beyond Delhi.
“There are two sides to this situation. While it will be extremely difficult for AAP to regain political dominance in Delhi, Kejriwal is now free from administrative responsibilities. He can use this opportunity to strengthen the party’s position in other states, such as Gujarat, where AAP had performed well in the last elections,” Kishor added.
