After 2013, 2015, 2020, AAP set to get an unprecedented mandate in 2025 in Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal
NEW DELHI/CHANDIGARH (The Uttam Hindu): AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal lauded the party’s landslide victory in the Punjab by-elections, on Saturday, terming it to be the semi-final of 2025 Delhi and 2027 Punjab polls. With Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak & Chabbewal being won by the party with huge margins, the triumph marks a new milestone, as these seats had never been won by AAP before—not even during the 2022 wave that saw the party take 92 out of 117 seats in the Punjab Assembly.
Celebrations erupted at the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in Delhi as jubilant party workers and supporters gathered to mark the resounding victory in the by-elections. The premises were adorned with colorful decorations, and the air was filled with the beats of dhols and chants. Arvind Kejriwal too joined volunteers during the celebrations, along with Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Senior AAP Leader Satyendar Jain and Rajya Sabha MPs Dr. Sandeep Pathak & Raghav Chadha. Punjab In-Charge Jarnail Singh, Punjab State President & Cabinet Minister Aman Arora and Punjab Working President Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi were also present at the occasion.
Addressing supporters and party workers, Arvind Kejriwal said that this is a moment of immense pride and gratitude for the party as it signifies the people's unwavering faith in AAP's governance model. With this victory, AAP now holds 95 seats in the Punjab Assembly, a testament to the work we've done to transform the state. “The Aam Aadmi Party has won three seats by a massive margin. I would like to heartily congratulate all the people, the workers, the leaders, and everyone involved. The special thing about these three seats is that they were not ours previously. These three seats have been won for the first time. Even during the 2022 wave, we didn’t win these three seats,” he said.
“In 2022, the people gave the Aam Aadmi Party 92 seats out of 117 in Punjab. Today, we now hold 95 seats in Punjab. The most significant aspect is that the BJP lost its deposits on all three seats. The way the Aam Aadmi Party has made its mark in the country’s politics is remarkable,” he added.
Talking about the growth of AAP he said that for the first time, the people of Delhi showered AAP with love and trust, which led to the party’s 49-day government in December 2013. “In those 49 days, we showcased the Delhi Model of Governance to the country. Within that time, we made electricity cheaper, water free, and launched a campaign against corruption across Delhi. In our first election, we won 28 seats out of 70. Seeing this, in 2015, the people gave us 67 seats out of 70. The work we did in those five years established the Delhi Model of Governance across the country,” he said.
Explaining what AAP’s model of governance stands for, he said, “It focuses on improving the daily lives of the common people. Over the last 70 years, other political parties didn’t even talk about the basic needs of the people—electricity, water, roads. For the first time, we provided 24-hour electricity in Delhi, made it free, and offered free water. We built excellent schools for children. What does a common man want? He wants his children to get a good education in good schools. Previously, people would sacrifice a lot to send their children to private schools. Now, in Delhi, they have stopped sending their children to private schools because the government schools have become so good.”
He added, “A common person also wants quality healthcare for his family in times of need. For this, we built outstanding government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics, and we made all medical treatments free of cost. We made bus travel free for women. On one hand, we provided relief from inflation for the common man, the poor, and the lower-middle class, and on the other, we improved Delhi’s infrastructure.”
Highlighting AAP’s achievements, he mentioned that before his government, Delhi Metro had only 200 kilometers of lines. “In just nine years, we added 450 kilometers. In 65 years, Delhi had 62 flyovers. In just nine years, we built 38 new flyovers. In the last nine years, we constructed 10,000 kilometers of new roads, laid 6,800 kilometers of sewer pipelines, water pipelines, and drains. Such development had never happened in Delhi. We installed CCTV cameras and streetlights throughout Delhi, creating excellent infrastructure,” he said.
“As these achievements spread across the country, people traveling between Delhi and Punjab started noticing the development in Delhi and thought Punjab should have the same,” he remarked. He said that Punjab had suffered for years under alternating governments that only looted the state. “In 2022, the people of Punjab chose us, and the same developmental work started there. Today, the people of Punjab have reaffirmed this work by voting for us again.”
Arvind Kejriwal said that these by-election results show that the government must be doing good work. “Otherwise, why would people support us so strongly again? I would call this the semi-final for the 2027 elections. By giving us three out of four seats today, the people of Punjab have said, “You’re doing a great job, keep it up. If you continue this way, we’ll give you even more than 92 seats in 2027.””
With the elections in Delhi due in February, he expressed his confidence that just like in 2013, 2015, and 2020, the Aam Aadmi Party will make history again in 2025. “The people of Delhi will once again give an overwhelming mandate to the Delhi Model and bring the Aam Aadmi Party back to power. Today’s results in Punjab are not just significant for Punjab but also for the upcoming Delhi elections. I would call them the semi-final for Delhi too.”
He concluded by thanking everyone and congratulating volunteers on this magnificent victory. “Those who used to call public welfare schemes "free ki revdi" are now including our promises in their manifestos. They’re going state to state saying, “We’ll also give free electricity, we’ll also give women a thousand rupees.” It’s good! We used to promise guarantees; now they’re saying, “We also have guarantees.” This is good. If the country benefits, it doesn’t matter how it happens.”
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “Today is a day of great joy. Even during the 2022 wave, we did not win these constituencies, but now, seeing our work, people have given us a huge majority. People now recognize the work done by the Delhi and Punjab governments.”
Bhagwant Mann further said, “In Gidderbaha, the Congress state president’s wife lost by 22,000 votes. For 13 years, they had a stronghold there. Our candidate won by 22,000 votes. Similarly, in Dera Baba Nanak, a senior Congress leader fielded his wife, and today they lost by 6,000 votes. These people only give tickets to their wives and do not know what is happening elsewhere. Meanwhile, the BJP lost its deposits on three of the four seats, and barely managed to save its deposit on the fourth. Just wait and watch in Delhi — soon, they will lose their deposits on all 70 seats in Delhi.”
Bhagwant Mann added, “These people write all kinds of things about AAP on their troll media. But even if one or two straws fall out of a broom while cleaning, the broom continues to clean. On the other hand, if you pluck a petal from a lotus, it’s no longer a lotus. If you take a finger away from a hand, it’s no longer a hand. Our broom will continue to clean. Earlier, we used this broom to clean houses and shops; now, under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership, we will clean the entire nation with this broom.”
He added, “We are using public funds to provide services to the public, and they are calling it ‘free ki revdi.’ If these are freebies, then where did PM Modi’s promise of Rs 15 lakh go? What about that? After demonetization, people were left with only Rs 2,000 – Rs 3,000, which was also taken away. We have won now, and we will continue to win. Next is Delhi’s turn, and together, we will win Delhi.”
