New Delhi, Feb 11 (UNI) Arvind Kejriwal is all set to become the Chief Minister of Delhi for the third consecutive term as his Aam Aadmi Party surged to a win in 63 seats in the 70-member Legislative Assembly, counting of votes which was taken up on Tuesday after the elections held on Saturday.
Opposition–Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress–were badly bruised by the AAP juggernaut. With seven seats, the BJP, just got four seats more than what it had bagged in the last assembly polls. Losing its deposit in 67 out of 70 segments, INC performed miserably yet again as it failed to open its account in the National Capital, once ruled by Sheila Dixit for 15 years.
A total of 672 candidates, including 593 men and 79 women, were in the fray, which was widely perceived to be a three-way contest but ended up in an one-horse race.
As per Election Commission data, AAP got a whopping 53.64 per cent vote, BJP 38.49 pc while INC 4.37 pc. Only 0.47 pc of voters pressed NOTA (None Of The Above) button.
Delhi voted for better education and medical facilities, free electricity and water supply, which were highlighted by AAP in its campaign rather than national issues—abrogation of Article 370, Citizenship (Amendment) Act and triple talaq—BJP’s poll agenda.
Raking up anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protest at Shaheen Bagh, failed to be an emotive issue for BJP.
INC campaign, which focused on return of the Sheila Dixit era of development, went unheard.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing his supporters at party’s headquarters in National Capital, called the AAP’s victory “birth of new kind of politics — politics of development.”
“Only those will be elected to power who will provide cheap electricity, Mohalla Clinics and roads to the people,” Mr Kejriwal asserted, amid loud cheers.
Arvind Kejriwal won from New Delhi constituency against BJP’s Sunil Kumar Yadav by a margin of 21,697 votes.
In Rohini, Leader of the Opposition Vijendra Kuma Gupta got 12,648 more votes than his nearest rival Rajesh Nama Bansiwala of AAP.
Interestingly, out of seven seats won by BJP, six fall in east Delhi region. These include Karawal Nagar, Ghonda, Rohtas Nagar, Gandhi Nagar, Laxmi Nagar and Vishwas Nagar.
Besides, lotus bloomed in Rohini, which comes under the north Delhi area.
As the Congress was nowhere in the seen with almost all candidates loosing its deposit, the election, from tripolor became bipolar.
For the next assembly, seven woman, including Atishi, were elected. All the candidates belong to the AAP. Moreover, all the 12 resereved (SC) seats, were too bagged by the AAP candidates.
After initial hipcups, Manish Sisodia registered a victory against his nearest rival Ravinder Singh Negi of the BJP in the Patparganj constituency.
In Okhla, where Shaheen Bhagh–hotbed of anti-CAA protest–is located, AAP sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan was ahead from BJP’s Braham Singh by whooping 85,209 votes.
In Kalkaji, AAP strong leader Atishi, strategist of education reform in Delhi, defeated BJP’s Dharamveer Singh by 11,393 votes.
Raghav Chadha of the AAP won from Rajinder Nagar with more than 58,000 votes against BJP’s R P Singh.
AAP turncoat, Kapil Mishra faced a defeat by the hands of AAP’s Akhilesh Pati Tripathi by 11,133 votes.
Chandni Chowk, which faced a tri-corner contest, AAP Parlad Singh Sawhney defeated BJP’s Suman Kumar Gupta by 29,584 votes. AAP turncoat and Congress candidate Alka Lamba lost her deposit.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal. Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, the PM posted, ”Congratulations to AAP and Shri @ArvindKejriwal Ji for the victory in Delhi Assembly Elections. Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi.”
Even though Congress failed to open it’s account, senior party leader P Chidambaram congratulated Mr Kejriwal. Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Tuesday dissolved the Delhi Assembly.
AAP election In-charge for Delhi and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the people of Delhi have chosen Mr Kejriwal’s politics of development. The erstwhile bureaucrat added that it is a strong votary of nationalism, and not a terrorist, as alleged by the saffron party.
BJP Lok Sabha MP Parvesh Verma had called Mr Kejriwal a terrorist for supporting the anti-CAA protest.
Subsequently, Mr Verma was barred by the Election Commission from canvassing for 96 hours.
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari took the responsibilty of his party’s debacle.
“Thanks to all the voters of Delhi. Thank you to all the party workers for their hard work… We respect the mandate of people. @ArvindKejriwal congratulations to you,” Manoj Tiwari posted on Twitter in Hindi. “I hope the Delhi government will live up to the expectations of the people,” he added.
Renowned political strategist Prashant Kishor, who worked for Aam Aadmi Party, tweeted, ”Thank you Delhi for standing up to protect the soul of India!”.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the AAP triumph in Delhi Assembly has shown that the voters have rejected the BJP’s ‘politics of hatred’.
Hailing the AAP victory, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said it shows that leaders playing on faith through hate speech and divisive politics should take a cue, as only those who deliver on their promises are rewarded.
As soon as the results became certain, celebrations commenced at AAP headquarters in Delhi with hundreds of volunteers distributing sweets and dancing to the beat of drums. Mr Kejriwal has asked his partymen not to burst fire crackers, in a fight to keep Delhi pollution-free.
BJP and INC offices wore a deserted look.