Thu Feb 20 18:29:23 UTC 2025: ## Kejriwal’s AAP Ousted from Power in Delhi After 26-Year BJP Hiatus

**New Delhi, February 21, 2025** – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has ended the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) 26-year reign in Delhi, with Rekha Gupta sworn in as the new Chief Minister on February 20th. The BJP secured a decisive victory in the February 8th Assembly elections, winning 48 of 70 seats, compared to AAP’s 22.

The defeat marks a stunning fall from grace for AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, who lost his New Delhi seat to BJP’s Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma by a margin of 4,098 votes. Kejriwal, a former civil servant turned activist and politician, had led the AAP to power in Delhi in 2015 and 2020. His tenure was marked by a focus on education, healthcare (including the popular Mohalla Clinics), and welfare schemes, but also by controversies including allegations of corruption and a strained relationship with the central government.

The article details Kejriwal’s career, from his anti-corruption activism to his meteoric rise and subsequent downfall. His former mentor, Anna Hazare, criticized the AAP’s loss, attributing it to a lack of integrity and entanglement in scandals. The article also highlights the legal battles facing Kejriwal, including an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in Delhi’s liquor excise policy, which led to his arrest and subsequent release on bail. He was also criticized for controversial statements during the election campaign, including accusations against the Haryana government and remarks about alleged voter manipulation.

The BJP victory has been interpreted in various ways. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh suggested the result reflects a rejection of Kejriwal’s leadership rather than an endorsement of the BJP’s policies. However, the BJP celebrated the win as a validation of their approach.

Kejriwal, while acknowledging the defeat and congratulating the new Chief Minister, stated that the AAP would continue to serve the people of Delhi as a constructive opposition. The impact of this loss on the AAP’s prospects in other states, such as Punjab, Gujarat, and Goa, remains to be seen.

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