Arvind Kejriwal Loses New Delhi Seat as AAP Faces Electoral Rout

New Delhi: In a stunning political upset, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has lost his stronghold in the New Delhi constituency to BJP’s Parvesh Verma. Kejriwal, who has held the seat since 2013, was defeated by a margin of approximately 1,200 votes.

Verma, a two-time BJP MP, had been kept out of last year’s Lok Sabha race but made a triumphant return, securing a major victory over the AAP supremo. His win has cemented his position as a rising force within the BJP, with speculation already swirling about his potential future as Delhi’s Chief Minister.

Kejriwal’s loss was announced just minutes after his former deputy, Manish Sisodia, withdrew from the race in Janakpuri. These developments underscore the magnitude of AAP’s setback in this election. At 1 PM, trends showed the BJP leading in 48 out of 70 Assembly seats, while AAP was ahead in only 22.

This election was seen as a crucial battle for Kejriwal, who was seeking a third consecutive term. Instead, his defeat—coupled with the party’s dwindling presence—has raised serious questions about AAP’s future, especially with both Kejriwal and Sisodia embroiled in corruption allegations linked to the liquor policy scam.

However, AAP did manage to salvage some success, with party leader Atishi securing a win against BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal’s defeat has reignited discussions about the friction between AAP and the Congress, both part of the struggling INDIA bloc. Many political observers believe a pre-election alliance could have helped Kejriwal retain his seat, if not his government.

Adding to the drama, an old video from 2023 resurfaced online following his loss, in which Kejriwal had boldly declared, “Narendra Modiji, you cannot defeat us in this life.” His words, meant as a challenge, now seem ironic in the wake of AAP’s crushing defeat.

As BJP celebrates its resounding victory, all eyes will now be on the future of Kejriwal and AAP in Delhi’s political landscape.