New Delhi, Feb 8 (EFE).- Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a decisive victory in the Indian capital’s legislative elections, marking its return to power in Delhi for the first time in 27 years.
The win ends more than a decade-long dominance of the Aam Ai Party (AAP), reshaping the political landscape of the national capital.
The electoral win grants the Hindu nationalist party a majority in the 70-seat Delhi assembly, allowing it to govern a politically crucial region that had been under the control of the AAP and the Indian National Congress for the past nearly three decades.
The BJP sured the 36-seat threshold required for a majority, according to results by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
“Development wins, good governance triumphs. I bow to my dear sisters and brothers of Delhi for this resounding and historic mandate to the BJP. We are humbled and honoured to receive these blessings,” Modi wrote on X.
“It is our guarantee that we will leave no stone unturned in developing Delhi, improving the overall quality of life for the people.”
While the BJP won 48 seats, the remaining 22 went to AAP, which had previously dominated Delhi’s elections, winning over 60 seats in both 2015 and 2020.
Minutes before the defeat was officially confirmed, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal posted a video on X acknowledging the result and congratulating the BJP.
“Today, the results of the Delhi elections have been announced, and we accept the people’s verdict. I congratulate the BJP on their victory and hope they live up to the hopes and expectations of those who have given them the majority,” said Kejriwal, who lost his seat in these elections after serving as Delhi’s Chief Minister for nearly a decade.
Over 15 million people were eligible to vote in the elections held on Wednesday, with turnout exceeding 60 percent.
A Shift in Political Fortunes
The election was marked by contrasting sentiments, euphoria among BJP ers, whose last and only term in Delhi ended in 1998, and a subdued mood within AAP, burdened by governance fatigue and corruption allegations against Kejriwal.
The AAP leader was jailed in March last year over his alleged involvement in a liquor licensing scandal in the capital but continued to lead the Delhi government from prison until his release in September.
The corruption allegations, coupled with voter dissatisfaction, proved to be insurmountable obstacles for his party.
Beyond being a symbolic victory, BJP’s win in Delhi also strengthens Modi’s position, allowing his government to exert greater control over potential protests against the central istration—demonstrations that AAP had often backed in recent years.
Delhi’s governance structure is uniquely complex. While the regional government oversees education, water management, and public services, key functions like policing and urban development fall under the authority of the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by central government.
A decade of BJP-AAP tensions had often left residents caught in the crossfire, but with the BJP now in control, a smoother istration is expected.
With this setback, AAP’s influence is now confined to Punjab, the only state it governs, where no elections are due until 2027.
For the BJP, the Delhi victory offers a much-needed boost as it navigates a crucial election year.
While Modi was re-elected as prime minister last year, his party lost the outright majority it had secured in 2014 and 2019. This latest win reinforces BJP’s political momentum as it looks ahead to electoral battles. EFE
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