In a surprising move that has sent ripples through political circles, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced its withdrawal from the upcoming mayoral elections in Delhi, signaling an admission of growing vulnerability at the national level.
Facing defeat in the assembly election, AAP’s leadership has decided to concentrate its energy and resources almost exclusively on retaining power in Punjab, its only full-fledged state government outside Delhi.
The AAP accused the BJP of resorting to undemocratic tactics to wrest control of the civic body, despite losing the popular mandate in the December 2022 elections.
In the 2022 elections to the MCD, AAP had won 134 wards against BJP’s 104 and Congress nine among others. At present, there are 12 vacancies after 11 (8 BJP and 3 AAP) of them were elected as MLA and one as an MP (BJP). The BJP’s current strength in the MCD has increased to 119 while AAP has around 111 councilors.
AAP’s Delhi convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj described the BJP as desperate in their need to cling to power in Delhi, and accused it of manipulating democratic processes. “We have been witnessing the BJP’s desperation for power in Delhi for many years now,” he said.
Sources within the party suggest that the decision came after internal assessments showed declining support in urban centers, exacerbated by corruption allegations against senior leaders and perceived administrative lapses. The fear, insiders say, was that a defeat in high-profile mayoral contests would further tarnish AAP’s image and weaken its already embattled leadership ahead of crucial assembly elections in Punjab next year.
Punjab remains AAP’s lone showcase of governance, but even there, the challenges are growing. After a strong victory in 2022, disillusionment among farmers, allegations of factionalism, and tensions with the central government have made Punjab a critical — and fragile — bastion for the party.
By pulling back from mayoral races, AAP hopes to project an image of a party focused on “larger battles,” but it only underscores the shrinking reach and eroding confidence of what was once billed as India’s most dynamic political movement.
As AAP shifts its full focus to Punjab, the battle there promises to be not just about electoral victory, but about political survival itself.
