The curious case of Kejriwal’s ‘shift’ from Delhi to Punjab

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal shifts focus to Punjab amid Delhi defeat, strategizing for upcoming state elections.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has all but disappeared from the city’s political landscape in the wake of a crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly election in February this year.

On February 8, the day of the results, Mr. Kejriwal — who lost his seat from the New Delhi constituency — made a brief appearance in a video, accepting the party’s loss and congratulating the BJP. Since then, he has retreated from the spotlight. Over the past three months, he has skipped all press meets and attended only two public events, both at the party headquarters in central Delhi.

The only other time he was seen publicly in the city was at his daughter’s wedding last month. Though he remains active on social media, reacting to political developments in Delhi, he has avoided public addresses or ground-level interactions.

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While Mr. Kejriwal has gone quiet in Delhi, he has been making frequent and visible appearances in Punjab. The State, which heads to the polls in early 2027, is now the focus of AAP’s national strategy. Mr. Kejriwal has made multiple trips to the neighbouring State in recent months, addressing rallies and supporting campaigns, particularly a drive against drug abuse.

Party insiders describe this as a calculated move. “He’s speaking where it matters most right now,” said an AAP member, explaining that Delhi affairs are currently being managed by senior leaders such as Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj.

“There’s no rush. The next Assembly election is far off, so the focus is elsewhere,” the insider said.