The 2025 election season delivered a tale of two political newcomers — one becoming a star, the other floundering. On one hand Arvind Kejriwal — though not new to politics — saw his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) re-energize public support in its debut election strategy in Delhi. On the other, Prashant Kishor and his freshly launched Jan Suraaj party failed to make any electoral dent in Bihar, despite a highly publicized campaign.

Kejriwal’s past record in public welfare, combined with AAP’s voter base and organisational strength, helped maintain relevance — even as critics highlighted governance failures and controversies. Meanwhile, Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj — though backed by high expectations and media attention — could not convert rhetoric into votes, illustrating how electoral success depends on more than strategy: grassroots presence, party machinery and voter trust matter most.