Last month, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) took a surprising step by opting out of the upcoming mayoral elections in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). This decision, from a party once hailed as a bold political disruptor, raises concerns rather than confidence. The AAP’s official explanation—that it wants to avoid cross-voting and horse-trading—appears less like a tactical decision and more like a reflection of internal weakness.
Raja Iqbal Singh, the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Leader of Opposition in the MCD, was elected mayor after defeating Congress candidate Mandeep Singh by 125 votes. The BJP leader secured 133 votes, while his Congress rival managed just 8. Of the 142 total votes cast, one was declared invalid.
The move comes on the heels of a heavy defeat in the February 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, where AAP managed to win only 22 out of 70 seats, while the BJP secured 48. This loss has clearly rattled the party’s core. Key leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia lost their constituencies, and a wave of defections has further hollowed out the party’s local strength.
What is more striking is the complete silence from Arvind Kejriwal since the electoral setback. The same leader who framed the Delhi election as his agnipariksha has not addressed either the public or his party workers about the defeat.
There has, in fact, been no acknowledgement of the defeat, no introspection, and no roadmap shared for the future. Instead, Kejriwal’s political focus appears to have shifted to Punjab, while Delhi waits for answers.