In AAP-BJP face-off, what mattered more to Delhi voters: party or CM face?

Findings of the Lokniti-CSDS Survey show that the party, as represented by its leadership, was a key factor for both BJP and AAP voters. Only a handful of respondents referred to the CM candidate as a key factor influencing their choice.

Written by Sandeep Shastri

Updated: February 10, 2025 03:18 AM IST

3 min read

While the BJP kept its focus on PM Modi, the AAP centred its campaign around Arvind Kejriwal. (Express photos/ Amit Mehra)

In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP did not declare a chief ministerial candidate. It kept the focus on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the “face” of its campaign, seeking votes on the promise of the “Modi guarantees”. For the AAP, the electoral campaign and strategy revolved around the persona of Arvind Kejriwal.

The Lokniti-CSDS Survey conducted around the time of the elections indicates that for a majority of the respondents (57%), the party was the most critical consideration when deciding whom to vote for. Close to one-third of the respondents (32%) mentioned the candidate as being the key factor behind their voting decision. A handful of the respondents referred to the CM candidate as a key factor influencing their voting choice (Table 1).

Table 1: Most important consideration while voting.

Asked about their preferred CM choice (without any names being suggested) close to four of every ten (39%) mentioned Kejriwal. In contrast, 31% of respondents indicated they would support anyone from the BJP, while 6% named specific BJP leaders (see Table 2). It is clear that Kejriwal found favour with his party supporters while those backing the BJP opted for any leader from the party.

Table 2: Voters’ top picks for Chief Minister.

More than eight of every 10 respondents who voted for the BJP (85%) stated the influence of PM Modi on their choice. Similarly, three-fourths of those who voted for the AAP (72%) stated that Kejriwal influenced their voting choice (Table 3). Thus, the impact of both Modi and Kejriwal is evident in influencing the voting decisions of BJP and AAP supporters, respectively.

At the end of the day, for BJP voters, Modi’s leadership and the party holding out guarantees in his name appeared to be key factors that swung the vote in the party’s favour. In the case of the AAP, the presence of Kejriwal appeared to be a key factor in encouraging voters to choose it.

Table 3: Which national leader most influenced your vote?

In important ways, Modi represented the party for BJP voters as did Kejriwal for AAP voters. This is in consonance with the opening argument that the party, as represented by its leadership, was a key factor for both BJP and AAP voters.

Shastri is Director-Academics, NITTE Education Trust and the National Coordinator of the Lokniti Network

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Delhi Chief Minister Delhi voters