In the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, the Yamuna River became a huge talking point that changed how voters felt, helping the BJP party win against the AAP. Many voters with roots in Haryana were upset by AAP’s comments about the pollution in Yamuna, which they saw as a jab at their home state. The BJP managed to win 48 out of the 70 seats, with a focus on local candidates. They had 14 candidates from Haryanvi backgrounds, and 12 of them won. In contrast, the AAP had 10 candidates from this group, but only 4 won.
In areas where Jat voters made up over 10% of the population, the BJP took 11 out of 13 seats, a big change from their results in 2020. The party also won most of the seats near the Haryana border, where Haryanvi voters account for a significant portion of the electorate.
The Yamuna River, which flows through Delhi, has faced years of pollution. Arvind Kejriwal, the leader of AAP, had promised to clean the river during the 2020 elections. However, as pollution worsened, especially around festivals like Chhath, his government faced criticism for not keeping this promise. When the BJP highlighted this issue in their campaign, Kejriwal claimed that Haryana was responsible for poisoning the river. This statement caused a lot of controversy, and the BJP quickly used it to rally support, portraying Kejriwal’s comments as an insult to Haryana and its people.
Prime Minister Modi also addressed this issue, asking whether people in Haryana would poison water that their own families use in Delhi. His response struck a chord with voters and helped the BJP solidify its support. BJP leaders then announced plans for a ‘Yamuna Kosh’ fund and a project to improve the riverfront, giving voters a clearer plan for how they would handle the situation.
In 2020, the AAP had a stronghold in the Yamuna area, winning 13 out of 15 seats. This time, they lost nine of them, leading to a drop in their total seats from 62 to 22. The AAP’s message about cleaning the Yamuna was overshadowed by the BJP’s promises of real action and their narrative about respecting Haryana.
The AAP also faced losses in rural and outer Delhi areas, where the BJP flipped 10 seats that AAP had won in 2020. Analysis showed that AAP’s support in these regions dropped by 8-12%. Despite coming into the election looking to win a third term based on their record, this election revealed how a single issue like pollution can hurt a party if not handled well.
Now, with the BJP in power for the first time in 26 years, they will need to deliver on their promises regarding the Yamuna. In a party meeting, Prime Minister Modi emphasized how the river has been neglected and promised to make it a symbol of pride for Delhi. He mentioned that they would work hard to improve the situation, showing that they take this matter seriously.
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