Prashant Bhushan Blames Arvind Kejriwal for AAP’s Election Defeat, Calls It ‘Beginning of the End’
New Delhi, 10th February 2025: Former AAP leader and lawyer Prashant Bhushan has held Arvind Kejriwal accountable for the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, calling it the “beginning of the end” for the party. Bhushan, who was expelled from AAP in 2015, accused Kejriwal of straying from the party’s core values and turning it into a “corrupt” entity.
In a post on X, Bhushan criticized Kejriwal for abandoning AAP’s founding principles of transparency, accountability, and ethical governance.
“A party that was created to promote alternative politics, uphold transparency, and function democratically was swiftly converted by Arvind into a supremo-driven, opaque, and corrupt organization,” he wrote.
Bhushan also targeted the former Chief Minister over the ‘sheeshmahal’ controversy, which became a focal point during the elections. Kejriwal faced allegations of misusing public funds for lavish renovations of his official residence.
“He spent ₹45 crores to build a sheeshmahal for himself and indulged in luxury, travelling in high-end cars. He dismissed 33 well-researched policy reports prepared by expert committees, stating that the party would formulate policies based on convenience when needed,” Bhushan claimed.
Further, he accused Kejriwal of relying on “hollow rhetoric and propaganda” instead of focusing on effective governance. “This marks the beginning of AAP’s downfall,” he asserted.
Social activist Anna Hazare also commented on AAP’s electoral loss, taking a veiled dig at Kejriwal’s ‘aam aadmi’ (common man) persona. When asked about the sheeshmahal controversy, Hazare laughed, recalling Kejriwal’s past commitments.
“He once claimed he would always live in a small room, but then I heard he built a sheeshmahal for himself. I’m 90 years old—I could have constructed a grand house too, but real happiness doesn’t come from luxury. True fulfilment comes from serving society,” Hazare remarked.
Previously, Hazare had stated that AAP had lost its moral compass by prioritizing money over public service, which ultimately led to its loss of credibility and electoral defeat.
After a decade in power, AAP faced a significant setback as the BJP made a strong comeback after 27 years, securing 48 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. AAP was reduced to just 22 seats, with several key leaders, including Kejriwal, losing their constituencies.
Accepting the election results, Kejriwal congratulated the BJP and expressed hope that the new government would fulfil the expectations of the people.
