Sat Feb 08 07:00:00 UTC 2025: ## BJP Storms Back to Power in Delhi After 27-Year Drought

**New Delhi:** In a stunning electoral upset, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to return to power in Delhi after a 27-year absence, according to latest election results. The BJP is projected to win over 45 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, surpassing the 36 needed to form a government.

This victory marks a significant turnaround for the BJP, which has enjoyed considerable success across India since 2014, including three consecutive terms at the national level. However, despite its national dominance and headquarters in Delhi, the party had been unable to secure a Delhi state government since 1998.

Several factors contributed to the BJP’s triumph, effectively breaking the seemingly unbreakable hold of Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP):

1. **Outbidding on Freebies:** The BJP countered AAP’s popular freebie policies with even more generous offerings, including ₹2,500 monthly financial assistance for women (exceeding AAP’s ₹2,100 proposal), subsidized LPG cylinders, and various welfare schemes for senior citizens and pregnant women. Crucially, Prime Minister Modi assured voters that existing AAP freebies would not be discontinued.

2. **Targeting Kejriwal’s Image:** The BJP successfully undermined Kejriwal’s image of incorruptibility by highlighting the cost of renovations to his official residence, dubbing it a “Sheesh Mahal” (palace of glass). This narrative effectively countered AAP’s “common man” appeal.

3. **Yamuna River Pollution:** While AAP blamed the BJP-ruled Haryana for polluting the Yamuna river, the BJP effectively framed the issue as one that could be solved only with a BJP government at all three levels – central, state (Haryana), and Delhi.

4. **Focus on Potable Water:** The BJP capitalized on concerns about the quality of Delhi’s free water supply, contrasting AAP’s promises with the reality of contaminated water reaching many households.

5. **Strategic Candidate Selection:** The BJP deployed strong candidates against key AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi, diverting their attention and resources, hindering AAP’s micro-management of the campaign. The BJP’s decision not to announce a Chief Ministerial candidate also prevented internal divisions within the party.

6. **Muslim-Majority Seats:** While specific details are still emerging, the BJP appears to have strategically benefited from the dynamics in several Muslim-majority constituencies, gaining crucial votes.

7. **Unified Voter Base:** The BJP’s strategy, tested successfully in other states, avoided divisive issues, uniting its diverse voter base behind a single goal: ousting AAP.

The BJP’s victory represents a major shift in Delhi’s political landscape, ending AAP’s 11-year dominance and marking a significant win for the BJP. The party now faces the challenge of delivering on its ambitious promises.

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