David slays the Goliath : Analysing the Delhi Elections 2025

Shri Narendra Modi emerged unexpectedly as the proverbial “David” of the Indian politics at the 2014 Indian general elections, when his Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) crushed the Indian National Congress (INC) by a decisive people’s mandate, catapulting him to the throne at Delhi, the axiomatic heart of Hindustan. From a humble start of his political career as a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member to being the longest serving non-Congress Prime Minister in Indian political chronology, his partisan and constitutional journey is a wonder to behold. Year after year, our David trounced and annihilated his political opponents in India’s vast political arena, only to be battered repeatedly at Delhi, the only citadel of his kingdom where the “Goliath” of Shri Arvind Kejriwal reigned unchecked and supreme. But the implausible turned plausible on Feb 8 2025, when Shri Narendra Modi finally won the rustic old bastion of Delhi after almost a decade-old battle. Finally, David slayed the Goliath, capturing unconditionally the centrality of the Indian political space.

But defeat is just another phase in politics. It is the people’s mysterious counsel asking you tactfully to re-strategize, re-evaluate and revamp your vision and mission afresh. Notable stalwarts in Indian political spectrum like Smt. Indira Gandhi as well as Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee have dismayingly vanquished in their respective constituencies before they transcended into Prime Ministers. Who would have fancied that Mr Donald Trump, thoroughly whipped and caned at the 2020 United States Political Election, would bounce back spinning with the most incredible comeback in American political history.

The defeat in Delhi awarded to Shri Arvind Kejriwal, having been slain in his own fortressed bastion, should be a sombre eye-opener. He should take time to reflect that under the cosmopolitan charm of Delhi’s opulent ultra-modern socialism – caste, governance and dynamic communal considerations often transcend simple electoral equations. There is good news and bad news for him. The bad news is that his party’s extra-amorous indulgence in a plethora of scams and his bovine cretinous attempts to enshrine himself at luxury mansions and palaces incriminates him to the grim public crime of malfeasance. The middle-class of Delhi has revolted against him, frustrated over deteriorating city infrastructure, rising air pollution, worsening Yamuna conditions, pothole-ridden roads, poor drinking water quality and unchecked garbage issues.

The good news is that the young and poor, the dominant predominating force of Indian politics are still by his side. There are substantial people who still believe he was framed and trapped, coerced to fall in not so humble ways. Shrewdness and Strategy are not any strange beloveds to Arvind Kejriwal, what he needs at this hour is an honest introspection. The unnecessary discordant fight of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with Indian National Congress (INC) under an equally astute and perceptive Shri Rahul Gandhi, will only distractively cut-down on the vote share of the former. Arvind Kejriwal rapidly needs to re-calibrate who his primary political target should be between the INC and BJP. He has to refine his subtlety to fight the undefended places in the political battleground rather than fighting a two-front war.
Shri Narendra Modi’s bold slogan “Development Wins, Good Governance Triumphs” over the herculean win at Delhi should be solemnized, but it remains to be seen whether he has the prudence to listen to what the malcontents in his historic win are signalling him. His direct courtship with Delhi has commenced, how many bedfellows can he successfully make and retain will be a test of time. Arvind Kejriwal as a political opponent is never to be taken lightly, he has the acumen and perspicacity to make a quantum leap. None knows better than him when playing the politics of hope and hand-outs. On a grim note, the local BJP unit in Delhi has failed to emerge as a force against the AAP, the election was won by Shri Narendra Modi under Brand Modi.

As cliché as it sounds, there are no permanent friends or permanent adversaries in politics. Goliath needs every bit of insight and foresight to confederate strategically, channel the inflamed egos of the disillusioned and disgruntled supporters to rebounce his attack on Brand Modi. Delhi as a political ground has never lost its fertility, it biases always to the beloved who has the expedient magnetism and seductiveness to woo her successfully.

The author is an Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, and a translator of several books on Historical & Ethnic poetry