NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party faced its first major setback in Delhi on Saturday and at its lowest political moment, supremo Arvind Kejriwal may be remembering the close associates he distanced himself from in the last few years as the party rose to prominence in the last decade.
After the BJP managed to sweep 47 out of 70 seats, riding on an anti-incumbency wave, Kejriwal might miss the team that helped him conquer the politics of Delhi for the first time in 2013.
Delhi Election Results 2025
One of Kejriwal’s closest associates, Swati Maliwal, turned into one of his biggest critics after accusing him of orchestrating an assault on her by his aide Bibhav Kumar.
Maliwal worked with Kejriwal since 2006 and served as the chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women. However, during the run-up to the Delhi polls, AAP Rajya Sabha MP staged several protests outside Kejriwal’s residence, demanding action on the government’s failure on multiple fronts.
Also Read: Delhi election full coverage
Former transport minister in Kejriwal’s cabinet, Kailash Gehlot, joined the BJP just ahead of the assembly elections.
“It was not an easy decision for me as I was associated with AAP since Anna Hazare‘s movement. A narrative is being built that I took the decision under ED or CBI pressure, which I strongly refute. I had joined AAP with a hope to bring change, but the values for which we fought were being compromised, which prompted me to quit AAP and join BJP,” Gehlot had said.
Kejriwal reacted to Gehlot’s exit, saying, “He is free; he can go wherever he wants.”
Another minister from Kejriwal’s cabinet, Kapil Mishra, was sacked from the party after leveling serious corruption charges against Kejriwal.
Mishra later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party and became one of the opposition faces against Kejriwal.
In these elections, Mishra secured his seat from Karawal Nagar with a lead of over 41,000 votes.
Alka Lamba
Congress’ candidate from the Kalkaji assembly seat, Alka Lamba, quit AAP due to growing resentment against the “one-man show” in the party.
In 2019, then-MLA Lamba had asked Kejriwal to accept her resignation on Twitter, sneering that AAP was now the “Khas Aadmi Party.”
Lamba, who represented the seat from 1998 to 2013, was looking to stage a political comeback. However, she lost to AAP’s Atishi.
Anna Hazare
Kejriwal’s mentor, Anna Hazare, parted ways after Kejriwal decided to form AAP in 2012.
After the results, Anna took a jab at Kejriwal, remarking that AAP “drowned” due to its liquor policy and focus on money.
“I have always said that a candidate’s conduct and thoughts should be pure. His life should be without blame and full of sacrifice. These qualities let voters have faith on him.I told this (to Arvind Kejriwal) but he did not pay heed, and finally, he focused on liquor. Why did this issue raise? He was overwhelmed by money and power,” Anna Hazare said as trends showed Kejriwal losing Delhi elections.
The Maharashtra-based social activist, who became the face of the 2011 anti-corruption movement, had said that he had advised Kejriwal to focus on social work rather than entering politics.
Additionally, AAP founders like Shazia Ilmi, Yogendra Yadav, Kumar Vishwas, and senior advocate Prashant Bhushan left the party, accusing leadership disagreements.
Journalist-turned-politician Ashutosh also resigned in August 2018, citing personal reasons, though there was speculation that his exit was linked to a denied Rajya Sabha candidacy.