New Delhi: With Delhi Assembly elections planned for early 2025, the city-state is poised for a high-stakes political battle that could shape the future of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal and test the enduring popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Known for its unique and dichotomous electoral behaviour—voting differently in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections—Delhi offers a crucial litmus test for both leaders.
Kejriwal’s AAP has dominated Delhi’s Assembly elections, securing 53.57 percent of the vote in 2020 and 54.34 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, the BJP has maintained a stable vote share in the city and has won all seven seats in Lok Sabha, despite failing to capture the Assembly. On the other hand, the Congress, once a dominant player, has seen a dramatic collapse, with a nearly 90 percent decline in its vote share since its last victory in the 2008 Assembly elections.
For PM Modi, this election marks a pivotal moment. Unlike recent elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, where his involvement was limited and ‘protected’, Modi is expected to be a central figure in the BJP’s campaign in Delhi. The election will test the strength of his mass appeal in Delhi, where local issues often take precedence over national ones. For AAP, a strong showing is not just about retaining power in Delhi, it is also critical for reinforcing its broader political ambitions, especially in states like Punjab, where it has sought to expand its footprint.
In Episode 1568 of Cut the Clutter, ThePrint’s Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta delves into Delhi’s electoral history, analysing the shifts in voting patterns, the rise and fall of political parties, and the broader implications of this electoral battle. The contest is shaping up as a referendum on two mass leaders: Kejriwal, with his governance model and grassroots appeal, and Modi, with his towering national stature.
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