The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) loss in the Delhi Assembly elections has come as a significant blow to its allies in Maharashtra, particularly the Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP). These parties had aligned with AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal as part of their broader fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but the outcome in Delhi has further strengthened the BJP’s position both in the national capital and Maharashtra.
While AAP has never been a dominant force in Maharashtra, its alliance with Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar under the INDIA bloc gave hope to opposition leaders looking to challenge the BJP. However, with Kejriwal’s party failing to retain power in Delhi after 12 years, the setback raises concerns for the opposition’s prospects in upcoming elections, including the crucial Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.
Kejriwal’s Maharashtra Connection
Kejriwal’s political journey has ties to Maharashtra, dating back to the India Against Corruption movement of 2011-12, led by social reformer Anna Hazare from Pune’s Ralegaon Siddhi. The anti-corruption crusade laid the foundation for Kejriwal’s political career, but his ties with Hazare have since soured. In fact, Hazare recently urged voters to reject AAP in the 2025 Delhi elections, criticizing Kejriwal’s leadership.
Following the BJP’s latest electoral triumph, Hazare took a swipe at the Delhi CM, stating, “A leader should always be selfless and upright. If you want to elicit people’s support, these are necessary qualities.”
Impact on Maharashtra Politics
Over the years, Kejriwal built strong ties with Thackeray and Pawar, frequently aligning against the BJP. When the Centre passed an ordinance to control the transfer of Group A officers, Kejriwal personally met Thackeray and Pawar, seeking their support in opposing it. Similarly, when Kejriwal was arrested, both parties backed AAP in protests against the BJP.
The Delhi results, however, have left Maharashtra’s opposition shaken. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut accused the BJP of using tactics similar to those in Maharashtra, stating, “The BJP seems to have replicated its Maharashtra pattern in the Delhi elections. From harassing Kejriwal through central agencies, arresting key leaders, to manipulating voter lists—their strategy is clear: eliminate any leader who dares to challenge Modi and Shah.”
For Thackeray, the upcoming BMC elections will be a do-or-die battle as he struggles to assert his leadership following the 2022 Shiv Sena split. The BJP, already riding on victories in Haryana, Maharashtra, and now Delhi, is confident of further electoral gains.
Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar stated, “The BJP is on a victory spree. After Haryana and Maharashtra, we have won Delhi. This shows people’s trust in Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. We will win the Bihar Assembly elections as well.”
With political stakes rising in Maharashtra, the opposition now faces an uphill task in countering the BJP’s growing dominance ahead of the crucial state and local elections.