While Mr. Kejriwal has gone quiet in Delhi, he has been making frequent and visible appearances in Punjab
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has all but disappeared from the city’s political landscape in the wake of a crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly election in February this year.
On February 8, the day of the results, Mr. Kejriwal – who lost his seat from the New Delhi constituency – made a brief appearance in a video, accepting the party’s loss and congratulating the BJP. Since then, he has retreated from the spotlight. Over the past three months, he has skipped all press meets and attended only two public events, both at the party headquarters in central Delhi.
The only other time he was seen publicly in the city was at his daughter’s wedding last month. Though he remains active on social media, reacting to political developments in Delhi, he has avoided public addresses or ground-level interactions.
Punjab plunge
While Mr. Kejriwal has gone quiet in Delhi, he has been making frequent and visible appearances in Punjab. The State, which heads to the polls in early 2027, is now the focus of AAP’s national strategy. Mr. Kejriwal has made multiple trips to the neighbouring State in recent months, addressing rallies and supporting campaigns, particularly a drive against drug abuse.
Party insiders describe this as a calculated move. “He’s speaking where it matters most right now,” said an AAP member, explaining that Delhi affairs are currently being managed by senior leaders such as Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj.
“There’s no rush. The next Assembly election is far off, so the focus is elsewhere,” the insider said.
Another senior leader confirmed that Punjab is the party’s top priority. “Mr. Kejriwal will be visiting the State regularly. Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain are already there most of the time, and other Delhi strategists are also stationed in Punjab.”
Losing Punjab would be a big blow to AAP. It could cost AAP its national party status and reduce its presence in the Rajya Sabha. The party is also quietly laying the groundwork in Goa and Gujarat – where AAP had opened its account and Assembly polls are due in 2027. “Senior leaders are involved in organisation-building efforts there, with Mr. Kejriwal expected to hit the campaign trail in both States once preparations are in place,” the leader said.
The AAP chief’s absence from Delhi may also be influenced by his own pre-election promises. After his arrest in connection with the now-withdrawn 2021-22 Delhi excise policy, he resigned as CM, declaring, “I will prove my innocence in janata ki adaalat (people’s court)”.
The verdict from that “people’s court” was unambiguous – and with the legal case still unresolved, establishing his “innocence” may prove difficult.