Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally led by Arvind Kjeriwal Photo: PTI Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rally led by Arvind Kjeriwal Photo: PTI Back in 2012, when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was founded by Arvind Kejriwal, it experienced a prompt rise to prominence in the landscape of Indian politics owing to its strict anti-corruption agenda.
From forming its first government in Delhi in 2013 and gaining the status of a national party in 2023 to witnessing the poll debacle in the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, the party's trajectory so far has seen both victory and defeat.
Birth Of AAP: A New Dawn In Indian PoliticsIn 2012, AAP was born after Kejriwal's rise to national prominence owing to his active involvement in the 'India Against Corruption' movement led by veteran social activist Anna Hazare. The movement reached its peak when the Congress-led UPA regime directed the police to infiltrate Ram Leela Maidan to disperse the crowd. However, in 2012, they parted ways after Kejriwal decided to form AAP.In the political history of India, the birth of the AAP on 2 October 2012 is considered a watershed moment. As the name suggests ( 'Aam Aadmi' is translated as 'common people' in English), AAP, from its formation, was portrayed as a movement of the common citizens who were suffering the consequences of a political decline in the nation.
The party also introduced the crowd-sourced model of electoral fundraising in India with small donations running the party right from the beginning.
From Anna Hazare's Anti-Corruption Movement To 2025 Election Loss | The Rise And Fall Of Arvind Kejriwal AAP: A ChronologyFormation Of AAP & 2013 Elections
In 2013, the Election Commission of India (ECI) granted it the state party status after it secured 29.5 per cent of the vote share and won 28 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly Elections, which was only 8 seats short of the majority mark.
With a considerable electoral dividend, AAP managed to form a minority government in the hung assembly, banking on the external support from eight Indian National Congress (INC) MLAs, one Janata Dal MLA, and one independent MLA.On 28 December 2013, Kejriwal was sworn in as Delhi’s chief minister.
Kejriwal's Resignation In 2014
In a setback to AAP, on 14 February, 2014, Kejriwal stepped down as Delhi CM following his failure to table the Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi Assembly. He also recommended the dissolution of the Assembly, blaming the Indian National Congress (INC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for obstructing the anti-corruption legislation.
Arvind Kejriwal: The Rise,php646 login Fall, and Future of AAP2015: AAP's First Victory In Delhi Assembly Polls
In the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP secured a landslide victory winning 67 out of 70 seats with a 54.3% vote share while the BJP managed to bag only three seats.
Following this major electoral victory, Kejriwal was again sworn in as Delhi's chief minister on 14 February 2015 at Ramlila Maidan.
2017: AAP Wins Seats In Punjab Polls
In 2017, AAP's popularity surpassed the boundaries of Delhi as it bagged 20 out of 117 seats in Punjab Assembly Elections. In the same year, AAP came close to achieving the coveted status of a national party by securing 6 percent of the vote share in the Goa elections.
In 2018, AAP entered the Rajya Sabha with three members. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, however, the party won just one of the 543 seats.
hot shot casino slot games2020 Delhi Polls: AAP Emerges Victorious Once Again
After the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections, AAP once again secured another landslide victory in 2020 winning 62 out of 70 seats. Arvind Kejriwal was sworn in for his third term as chief minister on 16 February 2020 at Ramlila Maidan.
2022: AAP's Victory In Punjab Assembly Polls
After Delhi, AAP in 2022 emerged victorious in Punjab Legislative Assembly election as well after winning 92 out of 117 seats. AAP Punjab convener and MP Bhagwant Mann was sworn in as Chief Minister on 16 March 2022.
2022: Beginning Of The Downfall
Marking the downfall of the pioneers of alternative politics in India, AAP's political trajectory took a significant turn in May 2022 when the Enforcement Directorate (ED) apprehended AAP leader and then Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain in a money laundering case.
The year 2023 brought another major setback to the party when AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia was arrested by the CBI in February in connection with the liquor scam case.
However, in April 2023, the party was granted the status of a national party by the Election Commission.
2024: Kejriwal's Arrest And Resignation As CM
What irreparably tarnished the party's reputation as a force against corruption was party supremo and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal's arrest by ED and CBI for his alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy case. With this Kejriwal became the first sitting chief minister in India to be arrested.
On 13 September 2024, the Supreme Court granted him bail with certain conditions while the case remains ongoing.
On 17 September 2024, Arvind Kejriwal resigned as Delhi Chief Minister. Following his resignation, Atishi Marlena was named as his successor to lead the Delhi government.
2025: AAP's Poll DebacleIn the 2025 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, Kejriwal's AAP was swept out of power as the BJP secured a crushing victory, winning 48 out of 70 seats.
Currently, the Indian team is at fourth position in the points tally.
Arvind Kejriwal also lost his New Delhi Assembly constituency seat to Parvesh Verma by a margin of over 4apex gaming88,000 votes.
