Once the darlings of Delhi politics, the top brass of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have now found themselves in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. It’s not every day you witness the political implosion of an entire leadership team in its own stronghold. But here we are. AAP, born and bred in the streets of Delhi, is now gasping for air in the very city it vowed to transform. Losing a seat in Delhi isn’t just a loss—it’s a spectacular implosion.

Even in 2013 and 2014, when AAP surged to power by riding on Congress’ corruption scandals, the Indian National Congress still managed to clutch onto its Gandhi bastions. Yet now, the party that prided itself on being the voice of the common man has been reduced to common gossip. The sharper the rise, the steeper the fall—and AAP’s fall has been nothing short of cinematic.

Over the past ten years, Kejriwal and his cohorts—Manish Sisodia, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj, and Sanjay Singh—have mastered one craft: spreading lies. Concrete work? Improvement in Delhi’s conditions? Ha! If there’s one thing they’ve perfected, it’s the art of being corrupt, unethical, and selfish—the holy trifecta of political incompetence.

The Yamuna’s still a cesspool? Blame Haryana! Delhi’s air quality is a dystopian nightmare? Clearly, it’s those irresponsible farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana burning stubble. AAP has turned scapegoating into a science—everything is the fault of the Lieutenant Governor, the BJP, or even the neighboring states. Accountability? Not in this timeline.

Must read: Delhi’s Political Pollution and How does breathing in Delhi feel like?

“We’ll build new schools!” they declared. What did they deliver? A few additional classrooms in existing schools and policies designed to stifle private institutions. And let’s not forget their masterstroke—Mission Buniyaad—a half-baked imitation of German educational models, conveniently leaving out the parts that might have actually worked. All flash, no substance. Election gimmickry at its finest. Meanwhile, they turned school premises into vote-baiting hubs with mohalla clinics and emotional manipulation of parents via their children. Truly visionary.

Must read: Mission Buniyaad: A mission to weaken the foundation

Ah, the legendary Mohalla Clinics! A beacon of healthcare or a clever real estate scheme? For a meager 20,000 to 30,000 rupees a month in rent, these clinics have turned ordinary property owners into loyal voters. It’s essentially McDonald: a franchise business where the real money’s in land. Delhi, with the highest GDP per capita among Indian states, is now bragging about these glorified first-aid centers. Bravo.

Of course, COVID-19 revealed the truth. If Kejriwal’s healthcare system had been remotely as effective as claimed, Delhi should have excelled during the crisis. Instead, it crumbled. But naturally, the blame fell on—you guessed it—the BJP and the Lieutenant Governor.

Must read: Reasons why Delhi is failing the coronavirus exam

Nothing screams “effective leadership” like a government constantly protesting against itself. Despite holding an absolute majority, AAP has spent more time staging protests than governing. It’s a political paradox: the party in power acting like the underdog in opposition. Their motto? “Do nothing, blame others, and pay influencers to spread fake narratives.” Can you guess which is their favorite paid youtuber? 

What’s the best way to win elections? Simple. Offer everything for free: water, electricity, transport. Who needs sustainable governance when you can just turn Delhi into a giant clearance sale? Sure, it worked for a while, but eventually, people got tired of handouts when real progress failed to materialize. Dependency politics doesn’t build long-term loyalty—it just breeds frustration.

Must read: The Hidden Costs of ‘Free’: How Discounts and Giveaways Shape Society

AAP’s 2020 landslide had a not-so-subtle factor: the consolidation of Delhi’s Muslim vote. Congress practically gave up, allowing AAP to become the go-to secular choice. But this support was tactical, not ideological. History shows that minority voting patterns in India often follow bloc strategies dictated by local leaders. Temporary alliances have an expiry date. Remember the Delhi riots?

Also read: Delhi under siege!!!

Kejriwal built his empire on an anti-corruption crusade. How poetic, then, that top AAP leaders like Sisodia and Jain now find themselves behind bars on—wait for it—corruption charges. The so-called saviors have become the villains. Plot twist! Do you 

Indian voters have a pattern: give a political party about ten years to prove itself. Congress ruled from 2004 to 2014 and then crumbled. AAP’s reign from 2015 to 2025 has followed suit, collapsing even more spectacularly. The only party to survive this ten-year curse? The BJP.

With consecutive victories in 2014, 2019, and 2024, the BJP has become the only player still standing after a decade in power. Unless a new political force emerges that can inspire the same level of trust, we might be looking at yet another BJP landslide in 2029. They’re not just breaking records—they’re rewriting political history.

And so, the curtain falls on AAP’s grand drama. What began as a movement of hope has ended in farce. Broken promises, corruption, blame games, and propaganda have eroded whatever credibility the party once had. Delhi has seen through the charade. The Aam Aadmi Party came to change politics, but instead, it’s politics that changed them—for the worse.

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Other reads:

• SC’s (L-G vs AAP) verdict: An inevitable, silent but deadly storm approaching Delhi
• Delhi’s Bermuda Triangle: How Kejriwal Redefined Accountability
• AAP’s no-NRC resolution & a new narrative