2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election

2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election
Election name	2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election
Country	India
Type	Legislative
Previous election	2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election
Previous year	2013
Next election	2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election
Next year	2020
Seats for election	70 seats in the Delhi Legislative Assembly
Majority seats	36
Election date	7 February 2015

2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election The 2015 Delhi Legislative Assembly election produced a landslide victory for the Aam Aadmi Party under Arvind Kejriwal, reshaping urban politics in India and drawing attention from national figures such as Narendra Modi and Amit Shah. The contest followed a short-lived 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election outcome and a period of President's Rule, featuring intense campaigning by the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, and regional actors including Shiromani Akali Dal and Bahujan Samaj Party. Voter turnout, issues like pollution and water, and the role of anti-corruption activism associated with Anna Hazare and the India Against Corruption movement were focal points.

Background

The election was precipitated by the resignation of the previous Delhi Chief Minister and the collapse of the minority government after the 2013 assembly result, which led to a short period of President's Rule in Delhi. The emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party from the India Against Corruption movement, led by Arvind Kejriwal and influenced by figures such as Prashant Bhushan and Kailash Satyarthi, altered the political landscape that had traditionally been dominated by the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. National personalities including Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Rahul Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi intervened in campaigning, while urban activists, trade unions like the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, and civic bodies participated in issue articulation.

Electoral System and Constituencies

Elections were conducted under the First-past-the-post voting system for 70 single-member constituencies of the Delhi Legislative Assembly. Constituency boundaries followed the delimitation by the Delimitation Commission that applied across India and used the electoral rolls managed by the Election Commission of India and the Chief Electoral Officer, Delhi. Polling logistics involved deployment coordinated with the Delhi Police, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and local municipal agencies such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Electronic Voting Machines supplied by the Election Commission of India were used, and voter registration drives referenced the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

Campaign and Major Issues

Campaigns revolved around public services, with heavy focus on air pollution in Delhi, water supply, electricity subsidies, corruption, and public transport such as the Delhi Metro. The Aam Aadmi Party emphasized Mohalla Clinic promises and anti-corruption reforms linked to activists like Anna Hazare, while the Bharatiya Janata Party advanced development and governance narratives associated with Narendra Modi and campaign strategy by Amit Shah. The Indian National Congress sought to regain footing under local leaders including Ajay Maken and appealed to its national leadership including Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. Civil society organizations, environmental groups such as Centre for Science and Environment, and trade associations engaged on policy debates, while media outlets including The Times of India, The Hindu, and NDTV amplified issues like odd-even traffic scheme proposals and Delhi Police-related law and order concerns.

Parties, Alliances and Candidates

Major contenders included the Aam Aadmi Party, led by Arvind Kejriwal; the Bharatiya Janata Party, led nationally by Narendra Modi and locally by figures such as Vijay Goel; and the Indian National Congress, fronted by leaders like Ajay Maken. Smaller parties and alliances included the Bahujan Samaj Party under Mayawati, the Shiromani Akali Dal, and independent candidates with local influence. Prominent candidates comprised incumbents and newcomers, reflecting cross-sections of Delhi's electorate from constituencies like New Delhi (Delhi Assembly constituency), North East Delhi, and Rohini. Campaign teams featured strategists connected to national party apparatuses and civil society advisors drawn from activists and lawyers such as Arvind Kejriwal's own activist circle.

Opinion Polls and Predictions

Pre-election opinion polls by organizations like CSDS and media houses varied widely, with many predicting a tight race among the Aam Aadmi Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and the Indian National Congress. Polling projections were influenced by factors including incumbency assessments, performance of municipal services, and the remobilization of anti-corruption voters linked to the India Against Corruption movement. Psephologists and institutes such as Centre for the Study of Developing Societies provided constituency-level analysis, but late swings and grassroots mobilization around Arvind Kejriwal's promise of local reforms complicated forecasts.

Results and Analysis

The election resulted in a decisive victory for the Aam Aadmi Party, which won a large majority of the 70 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Indian National Congress suffered major losses. Analysts attributed the outcome to voter support for promises such as Mohalla Clinic healthcare, electricity subsidies, and anti-corruption measures, as well as dissatisfaction with previous arrangements. Coverage by outlets including The Indian Express, Hindustan Times, and international observers highlighted the role of urban voters, youth turnout, and campaign messaging tied to grassroots activism. The result had reverberations for national party strategies ahead of the 2019 Indian general election cycle and reshaped political narratives around urban governance.

Aftermath and Government Formation

Following the mandate, Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in as Chief Minister of Delhi with a council of ministers drawn from the Aam Aadmi Party, marking a shift in control of institutions such as the Delhi Legislative Assembly and administrative priorities in bodies like the Delhi Jal Board and the Transport Department, Government of NCT of Delhi. The new government initiated policies on public health, water distribution, and electricity, engaging with entities like the Central Government of India and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi over administrative jurisdiction. The victory influenced subsequent alignments among parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress and shaped debates in forums such as the Supreme Court of India and parliamentary committees about the powers of the capital's administration.

Category:2015 elections in India