'Kejriwal should've resigned after arrest...': Kishor on AAP's Delhi defeat
What's the story
Political strategist Prashant Kishor has attributed the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections to a string of strategic blunders by its chief, Arvind Kejriwal.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won 48 out of 70 seats in the election, marking a historic victory after being out of power in Delhi for 27 years.
Meanwhile, AAP could only win 22 seats—a steep decline from its 62-seat tally in the 2020 elections.
Strategic blunders
Kishor criticizes Kejriwal's strategic decisions
Kishor said Kejriwal should have resigned as Chief Minister immediately after his arrest in an alleged liquor scam, instead of waiting till after securing bail.
He also slammed the decision to appoint a new Chief Minister before the elections, calling it a "big strategic mistake."
"The first reason for AAP's big loss in Delhi was the 10-year anti-incumbency factor. The second...was Arvind Kejriwal's resignation," he told India Today TV.
Political inconsistency
Kishor highlights Kejriwal's inconsistent political alliances
Further, Kishor highlighted Kejriwal's inconsistent political alliances as a reason for AAP's defeat.
He said Kejriwal first aligned with the Opposition's INDIA bloc, only to later pull out and contest independently.
"His fluctuating stance—first aligning with the INDIA bloc and then exiting it—hurt his credibility," Kishor said.
He also emphasized governance failures under Kejriwal's leadership, like water-logging issues and poor roads, which he said led to AAP's loss.
Party criticism
Former AAP leaders criticize Kejriwal's leadership
Former AAP leader Prashant Bhushan also slammed Kejriwal for straying from the party's founding principles of transparency and accountability.
He accused Kejriwal of turning AAP into a "supremo dominated, non-transparent & corrupt party."
Another former AAP leader, Kumar Vishwas, accused Kejriwal of exploiting party workers' dreams for personal gain and congratulated the BJP on their victory.
Election aftermath
BJP celebrates victory, AAP acknowledges defeat
Union Home Minister Amit Shah proclaimed that the "rule of lies" had ended in Delhi with this election result. He called it the beginning of a new era of development and trust under BJP leadership.
Despite AAP's overall loss, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi won her Kalkaji seat by defeating BJP's Ramesh Bidhuri.
Atishi accepted the loss but promised to keep fighting against the BJP.