Delhi Election Results: What Led To AAP, Arvind Kejriwal's Downfall? 5 Decisive Factors Explained

As per the Election Commission's official trends, the BJP is set to win around 48 seats and the AAP is likely to get confined to 22 seats, 14 less than the majority mark of 36. 

Arvind Kejriwal came to power in 2013 as an anti-corruption crusader. He stormed to power in Delhi after the Lokpal movement led by Anna Hazare. However, he was not able to deliver on the Lokpal issue as his clean image took a hit after the alleged liquor scam allegation in which the former CM himself was jailed. He failed to regain voters' confidence and sympathy as seen in the Lok Sabha polls as well. 

When Arvind Kejriwal won the Delhi election, he promised that he won't take government accommodation, security, car and bungalow. Contrary to that, Kejriwal and his cabinet are availing all the facilities. Kejriwal even got a new house built for the Chief Minister of Delhi and the BJP took the issue to the public through the 'Sheeshmahal' campaign. The AAP leaders couldn't counter the allegation effectively as the videos of the house went viral on social media.

The Kejriwal dispensation has been locked in a battle with Delhi Lieutenant Governor over governance and other issues. He kept accusing the LG and the BJP of disrupting development works which he failed to deliver. The people saw it as an excuse and decided to move away from the AAP. Voters claim that tussle with LG cannot be an excuse for a government's non-performance. 

While the AAP pioneered the free electricity, water and bus model in Delhi, other issues like a supply of clean drinking water, bad internal roads and power cuts remained a challenge for the AAP despite 10 years in power. While Mohalla clinics have been a hit among people, the condition of the big Delhi government hospitals has not improved. The Muslim voters admitted on Zee News camera that they voted for the BJP as no development happened in their areas. The AAP could not find a counter to anti-incumbency playing against it. 

Arvind Kejriwal went on camera to claim that he would clean Yamuna by 2025, or else won't seek a vote again. While he failed to clean Yamuna, he came up with a Yamun poisoning allegation which fell flat with the voters. The BJP, on the other hand, raised the Yamuna issue prominently during the Chhath festival and the poll campaign, cornering the AAP.