BENGALURU: Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) defeat in the Delhi assembly elections, coupled with Congress drawing a blank, has sent a strong message to the ruling party in Karnataka – welfare schemes alone are not enough to secure electoral victory. Governance, credibility, and political stability play a decisive role in winning voter trust.Despite its populist measures, AAP suffered a major setback, underscoring the electorate’s preference for efficient administration over mere handouts. With Karnataka’s ruling Congress banking heavily on its ‘five guarantee’ schemes, political observers believe the Delhi outcome serves as a wake-up call.
“Freebies alone do not win elections. The electorate expects that state resources are deployed without taint. The Delhi ‘liquor scam’ played a key role in AAP’s decimation,” said Brijesh Kalappa, a former Congress and AAP functionary. He also noted that Congress’ 4.5% vote share in Delhi ate into AAP’s base.

Political analyst Harish Ramaswamy highlighted the need for strategic alliances and organizational discipline nationally. “Congress must learn that stable partnerships in pre- and post-poll alliances are crucial. They can’t thrive without proper organization and strategic planning. Leadership must recognize that politics is a clever game, but voters are cleverer,” he remarked.

He pointed out that opportunistic politics is unsustainable. “Freebies alone are not a long-term electoral strategy. Leftist and socialist ideologies work when backed by strong political will and well-executed strategies. Voters today look for result-oriented policies rather than politically motivated short-term programmes,” he said.

Noted psephologist Sandeep Shastri attributed AAP’s poor performance to shifting voter preferences.

“What is often dismissed as ‘freebies’ is actually an economic safety net for key sections of society. AAP retained its support among the poor, winning a third of the seats, but lost middle-class backing- this group, which supported the party in 2015, shifted to BJP this time,” he said.

For state Congress, he suggested a recalibrated approach. “The results highlight the importance of party unity, efficient service delivery and fulfilment of promises.”

Senior Congress functionaries admitted that Delhi’s verdict is a stark reminder: freebies may attract voters, but governance ultimately decides electoral fate.