Maliwal's Stinging Critique of Kejriwal's Leadership

In a dramatic shift of the political landscape in Delhi, AAP's downfall post the 2025 Assembly elections has been marked by fierce criticism from within its own ranks. Swati Maliwal, an MP from the Aam Aadmi Party, has come forward with a stinging rebuke of Arvind Kejriwal's leadership style, attributing his alleged arrogance and detachment from the founding ideals of the party as the focal reasons behind the electoral debacle. Her comments resonate loudly as she admonishes the former Delhi Chief Minister, claiming that his leadership had grown distant and self-serving over time.

Maliwal didn't hold back in her interview with NDTV, where she articulated how Kejriwal's perceived haughtiness led to the downfall: 'When someone becomes arrogant and ceases to work for the public's benefit, they face the consequences, and this time, it was Kejriwal,' she remarked. Her critique extended beyond mere personal attacks, tapping into broader governance issues including Delhi's crumbling infrastructure and the prevalent issue of unclean water supply—an aspect she claims the Kejriwal-led administration failed to adequately address.

AAP's Challenges and BJP's Revolutionary Win

Swati Maliwal's grievances include her accusation that Kejriwal had strayed from AAP's fundamental principles, contributing to a decline in the party's internal democracy. Her sentiments echo a growing disillusionment among party members and supporters who were initially inspired by AAP's grassroots approach to politics. Furthermore, her usage of a metaphor from the Mahabharata, likening AAP's current state to Draupadi's disrobing, indicates the extent of humiliation she feels the party has suffered under his reign.

The election result was catastrophic for AAP, as BJP seized the opportunity to make a clean sweep, ending AAP's 13-year stronghold in the capital. Meanwhile, the Congress party remained out of contention with no significant win to its name. The situation brings to light not just leadership issues, but tangible failures in governance that were echoed in the streets—piles of garbage, tainted water, and infrastructural neglect were critical pinch points brought up frequently in Maliwal's remarks as well as in public discourse.

Maliwal’s sharp words come at the wake of an earlier conflict in 2024 where she accused Kejriwal's aide, Bibhav Kumar, of assault during a meeting. This incident had already strained ties between the MP and Kejriwal and paints a picture of a party grappling with internal strife while externally struggling to uphold its once-strong governance pledge to the people of Delhi.