Shahnawaz Mughal
The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections have concluded with a resounding victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking their return to power in the capital after 27 years. The Aam Aadmi
Party (AAP), which once symbolized hope and change, has faced a significant defeat, securing only 22 seats out of 70. This outcome, while surprising to some, seems to be the culmination of a series of missteps that began as early as 2020.
In 2020, AAP was at the zenith of its popularity, having secured a landslide victory by focusing on development and welfare. However, the party’s stance on several critical issues began to alienate its core supporters, particularly the Muslim community, which had backed AAP wholeheartedly.
The abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 was a pivotal moment in India’s political landscape. While many parties took clear stances, AAP’s ambiguous position disappointed many Muslims who viewed the move as detrimental to the autonomy of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Tablighi Jamaat incident in 2020 further strained relations. The congregation was widely blamed for a surge in COVID-19 cases, leading to widespread vilification of the Muslim community. Instead of defending the community against sweeping generalizations, AAP leaders joined the chorus of condemnation, deepening the sense of betrayal among their Muslim supporters.
The 2020 Delhi riots were perhaps the most glaring example of AAP’s failure to stand by its principles. As violence engulfed parts of the city, the party’s leadership remained conspicuously silent. The deployment of police against protesting Jamia Millia Islamia students further highlighted AAP’s reluctance to challenge majoritarian narratives.
More recently, AAP leader Awadh Ojha’s support for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) has been perceived by many as an endorsement of policies that could undermine Muslim personal laws.
During the Gujarat elections, the party’s silence on issues like the Bilkis Bano case and other injustices faced by Muslims was deafening.
If Arvind Kejriwal aspired to adopt a Hindutva stance, it would have been more honorable to do so openly rather than at the expense of dehumanizing the very community that had placed its trust in him. Since the 2020 riots, there has been a noticeable distancing of Muslims from AAP, a sentiment that was evident in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) election results, where the Congress made a comeback in several wards.
The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) also made its presence felt, contesting fiercely in two seats with support from leaders across states. In Mustafabad, Tahir Hussain did not win but cut into AAP’s vote share, leading to a seat that AAP could potentially win being lost to BJP. The Indian National Congress (INC) played a strategic role in AAP’s defeat. In nearly a dozen seats, the votes garnered by INC candidates exceeded the margin between the winning BJP candidate and the losing AAP candidate. This outcome can be seen as a form of retribution for AAP’s role in the Congress’s decline in regions like Haryana.
With many of its leaders losing their seats, AAP faces an uncertain future. The party lacks a dedicated cadre, and many of its members, driven by personal ambitions rather than a shared ideology, may begin to seek alternatives. For the Congress, this presents an opportunity to reclaim its pre-2013 voter base. However, the rise of AIMIM, which finished third in the two seats it contested and emerged as the fourth-largest party by vote share, indicates that Muslims are exploring new political avenues.
Arvind Kejriwal must now confront a critical juncture: he needs to define and adhere to a clear ideology. Without this, the party risks further decline. The BJP is likely to initiate efforts to capitalize on AAP’s vulnerabilities, and without a strong ideological foundation, AAP may witness defections in Delhi, Punjab and Gujrat. The Congress, on its part, must address the challenge posed by AIMIM if it hopes to reestablish itself as a formidable force in Delhi.
Muslim voters, too, must reconsider traditional voting patterns. It’s imperative to vote strategically, supporting parties and candidates who are vocal and proactive on issues that affect their community. AIMIM has demonstrated this capability, and its rise suggests a shift towards more assertive political representation.
The victories of candidates like Kapil Mishra, Ravinder Negi, and Parvesh Verma raise pressing questions about the conscience of the electorate. Their triumphs prompt reflection on the values and priorities that guide voter decisions in our democracy.
To conclude, AAP’s decline in the 2025 Delhi elections is not an abrupt fall but the result of a series of decisions that alienated its core supporters. The party’s journey from a symbol of hope to its current predicament offers valuable lessons on the importance of staying true to one’s principles and the perils of political ambiguity.
