Opinion | The Delhi Blueprint: How RSS Support And Localised Campaign Delivered For BJP
BJP's Delhi triumph wasn't just happenstance. A potent mix of RSS groundwork and a laser focus on Delhi's everyday concerns, from Yamuna pollution to potholes, proved a winning formula
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) achieved a resounding victory in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, winning 48 of the 70 seats and ending the decade-long rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal. This triumph marks BJP’s first assembly election win in Delhi since 1993—an achievement nearly three decades in the making.
However, this victory was far from effortless. The BJP executed a meticulously planned and aggressive campaign, dismantling not just AAP’s governance model but also its leadership structure. The party not only secured a sweeping majority but also managed to defeat AAP’s top brass, including Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, former health minister Satyendar Jain, and cabinet minister Saurabh Bharadwaj.
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While anti-incumbency against Kejriwal played a role, it would be simplistic to attribute BJP’s victory solely to voter fatigue with AAP. The BJP carefully crafted and dominated the electoral narrative, capitalising on AAP’s governance failures, corruption allegations, and leadership crisis. The ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy, the liquor scam, and the arrests of key AAP leaders weakened the party’s credibility, while BJP successfully positioned itself as the alternative.
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This election has not just changed Delhi’s political landscape but also dealt a severe blow to AAP’s national ambitions. For Kejriwal, the challenge now is not just to recover from defeat but to keep his party politically relevant in the long run.
RSS’ GRASSROOTS STRATEGY: THE SILENT FORCE BEHIND BJP’S VICTORY
The BJP’s emphatic victory in the 2025 Delhi Assembly election was not merely a result of anti-incumbency or AAP’s decline—it was powered by the RSS’s deep-rooted mobilisation. Over 50,000 ‘drawing room’ meetings were held across the city, engaging more than four lakh voters. These hyper-local discussions focused on key concerns like sanitation, clean water, healthcare, women’s safety, and air pollution—issues that directly impacted daily life.
What made this campaign unique was its precision. Well before the elections were announced, the RSS had divided Delhi into eight zones, 30 districts, and 173 urban localities, ensuring widespread engagement. These meetings weren’t confined to traditional political settings but were held in homes, offices, shopping centres, schools, and colleges—making the outreach more organic. Supported by affiliates like Seva Bharati, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), the effort created a vast network of dedicated volunteers.
The RSS centred its narrative around five changes—environmental pollution, family values, corruption, social harmony, and nationalism—aligning seamlessly with the BJP’s vision. By addressing the everyday struggles of voters, the RSS significantly contributed to the BJP’s victory, thereby reinforcing its ideological and electoral dominance in Delhi.
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STRONG NARRATIVE AGAINST KEJRIWAL
After AAP’s sweeping victory in the 2020 Delhi Assembly election, the BJP embarked on a calculated, long-term strategy to dismantle Arvind Kejriwal’s dominance. Despite lacking a strong local organisation and a credible CM face, the BJP focused on crafting a hyper-local narrative that directly targeted the pillars of AAP’s politics—the Delhi Model of governance, its anti-corruption stance, and Kejriwal’s “aam aadmi" image.
The BJP’s first breakthrough came with the liquor policy scam, which led to the arrests of key AAP figures, including Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. This shattered AAP’s anti-corruption narrative, a foundational pillar of its appeal. Simultaneously, the BJP consistently highlighted AAP’s governance failures—ranging from unfulfilled promises to worsening civic issues—convincing voters that Kejriwal’s government had failed to deliver.
Perhaps the most decisive blow was the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy, which painted Kejriwal as an elitist rather than the common man he claimed to represent. This narrative shift eroded the emotional connect he once had with voters. As BJP relentlessly attacked AAP’s credibility, internal rifts within the party became more visible, reinforcing the perception of a crumbling leadership.
Ultimately, this election was a referendum against Kejriwal. His defeat from his own constituency, along with the fall of AAP’s top brass, was the culmination of BJP’s well-executed campaign.
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LOCALISED AND PERSONALISED CAMPAIGN
Unlike previous elections, the BJP adopted a “back to basics" approach, focusing on local issues rather than national ones. This strategy helped the party connect with voters on a more personal level, addressing their immediate concerns and needs. The BJP’s campaign was centred on continuing AAP’s popular welfare schemes while promising “double engine development" and a tougher stance on alleged corruption within the Kejriwal-led government.
Despite having prominent leaders like Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the BJP’s campaign in the 2025 Delhi Assembly election was characterised by a localised approach. The party limited the number of large rallies by Modi and Shah, focusing instead on hyperlocal campaigns that addressed specific issues faced by Delhi residents.
The BJP’s campaign strategy was meticulously crafted to address the grievances of the middle class, which had felt neglected by the AAP over the years. The party actively engaged with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and market associations, promising tax relief and better governance. This approach resonated with voters who were frustrated with the deteriorating infrastructure, poor civic amenities, and rising air pollution in the city.
The BJP’s focus on local issues was evident in its promises to improve the quality of life for Delhi residents. The party pledged to address the city’s pressing issues, such as the contaminated water of the Yamuna river, pothole-ridden roads, and irregular waste management. By highlighting these problems and offering concrete solutions, the BJP was able to gain the trust of voters who were disillusioned with the AAP’s governance.
The BJP’s “back to basics" strategy also placed a significant focus on environmental concerns. The party promised to make Delhi an e-bus city and improve air quality by implementing stricter pollution control measures. These promises appealed to environmentally conscious voters who were concerned about the city’s deteriorating air quality and the health impacts of pollution.
GAINING THE SUPPORT OF MIDDLE CLASS
The BJP achieved a significant victory in the Delhi elections by effectively addressing the concerns of the middle class. A key factor in their success was the budget announcement that exempted income up to Rs 12 lakh from taxation. This policy move provided substantial relief to middle-class taxpayers, who form a significant portion of Delhi’s electorate. This decision resonated strongly with middle-class voters, many of whom had previously supported the Aam Aadmi Party but felt neglected by its recent policies.
The combination of strategic candidate selection, grassroots mobilisation, and a focus on local issues enabled the BJP to secure the support of middle-class voters, who traditionally supported the party in Lok Sabha elections but had switched allegiance to the AAP in assembly elections.
The author, a columnist and research scholar, teaches journalism at St. Xavier’s College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.
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