Win secures regional footing, opens door to national politics

The Delhi chief minister has had a difficult five years — with a running battle with the Centre on governance issues, the exit of key party leaders, setbacks to any national expansion plans (especially after the 2017 loss in Punjab), and then the rout in the Lok Sabha elections. Yet, Kejriwal has consistently learnt lessons and evolved. From being seen as a disruptor, he transformed his image to that of a leader focused on meeting basic needs and aspirations of citizens — improving schools, public health facilities, and providing electricity and water at subsidised rates. He also toned down his opposition to Narendra Modi, and decided to support the BJP on contentious national issues, from the nullification of Article 370 to the judicial order on the construction of Ram Temple. He stayed away from JNU and

Shaheen Bagh to prevent the BJP from getting any additional room to score political points. All of this helped. The AAP was fighting a battle for survival — a loss would have raised questions about its very future. The win re-establishes Kejriwal’s dominance in Delhi politics; it consolidates the AAP’S position as a key regional party; and it potentially opens the door for national expansion. Becoming chief minister for the third time will ensure Kejriwal has led AAP’S transformation from a start-up to an established player in India’s political marketplace. He will now have to make hard choices — priorities in the next term, whether he wants to move beyond Delhi, and if he wants to take an aggressive position against the BJP or stick to his non-confrontational approach.