In a historic political shift, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reclaimed power in Delhi after nearly three decades, securing a decisive victory in the 2025 Legislative Assembly elections. The party won 48 out of 70 seats, marking a significant turnaround from its previous tally of 8 seats in 2020. Rekha Gupta, the MLA from Shalimar Bagh, has been appointed as the new Chief Minister, becoming the first woman to hold this position in Delhi.
The election results dealt a severe blow to the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had dominated Delhi’s political landscape for a decade. AAP’s seat count plummeted from 62 in the last assembly to just 22, with several prominent leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Satyendar Jain, losing their seats. The Indian National Congress continued its decline, failing to secure any seats for the third consecutive election, although it did see a slight increase in its vote share.
Political analysts attribute the BJP’s resurgence to a combination of factors, including public dissatisfaction with AAP’s governance and effective campaigning by the BJP. Key issues that influenced voter sentiment included allegations of corruption within the AAP government, particularly concerning the liquor policy and expenditures on the Chief Minister’s residence, dubbed the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ by critics.
Rekha Gupta’s elevation to the Chief Minister’s office is seen as a strategic move by the BJP to project a fresh leadership image and appeal to a broader electorate. Her appointment is expected to bring a new direction to Delhi’s governance, focusing on transparency and development.
As the BJP prepares to implement its agenda in the capital, the political landscape of Delhi stands transformed, signaling a new chapter in the city’s governance and offering a potential blueprint for the party’s strategies in other urban centers across India.