NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The BJP was poised for a remarkable return in Delhi on Saturday, potentially ousting the Aam Aadmi Party after over 26 years and cementing its expanding presence across India.
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As the results rolled in from the 70-seat Delhi assembly elections conducted earlier this week, data from the Election Commission indicated the BJP leading in 48 constituencies with the AAP following in 22. Manish Sisodia, a seasoned AAP leader and former deputy chief minister, accepted defeat in Jangpura, while party leader Arvind Kejriwal faced a possible loss in New Delhi.
The Congress party, having governed for 15 years under Sheila Dikshit, failed to secure any seats in this two-party race.
Local issues like water supply, drainage, and waste management overshadowed the aggressive campaigning from both parties, as voters critically assessed their living conditions in a severely polluted environment. The BJP capitalized on the term ‘sheesh mahal’ frequently associated with the luxurious residence of the chief minister after renovations by Kejriwal, along with allegations of corruption within the excise policy scandal, which resonated with the electorate.
In response, the AAP, addressing its leaders Kejriwal and Sisodia facing charges in the excise case, asserted they were being obstructed by the lieutenant governor in executing their governance. However, this defense failed to gain the traction they hoped for.
For Kejriwal, the two-time chief minister and face of the anti-corruption movement that started in 2013, it was a tense battle between victory and loss within his constituency. Throughout the morning, he fluctuated between trailing and leading. After nine counting rounds, he was behind BJP’s Parvesh Sahib Singh by 1,170 votes.
Sandeep Dikshit, son of the former chief minister Sheila Dikshit, trailed in third place with just 2,812 votes.
As the Congress party faced a further setback, the AAP grappled with an identity crisis. A defeat in Delhi, after a decade of governance, could jeopardize its ambitions on a national scale, leaving only Punjab under its control.
Chief Minister Atishi, who succeeded Kejriwal following his imprisonment, was behind in the Kalkaji constituency by 3,231 votes, while Sisodia maintained a lead in Jangpura by 2,438 votes.
The party experienced a significant decline, having won 67 of 70 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020, now facing prospects of securing less than half of that. Promised initiatives like mohalla clinics, model schools, free water, and electricity appeared to have lost their appeal.
Previously dominant in Delhi’s political landscape, the AAP now confronted the reality of a potential defeat for its leader.
As Congress headquarters remained eerily quiet, AAP workers speculated on a potential comeback while their leaders convened for discussions. In contrast, the BJP office resonated with celebratory drumbeats as workers reveled in extending their winning streak from the recent Lok Sabha elections where they secured all seven city seats.
The party seemed primed to reclaim power, successfully dispelling the AAP-Kejriwal influence in the capital.
BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi commented, “The results indicate that the populace has placed their trust in the BJP’s policies spearheaded by PM Modi. It reflects a belief among the weaker sections in Delhi regarding Modi’s assurances, with the middle class siding with the ‘Viksit Bharat Sankalp’.”
Who the next chief minister will be remained uncertain.
The upcoming chief minister will belong to the BJP, with central leadership set to decide on the candidate, stated the party’s Delhi president Virendra Sachdeva.
He emphasized that BJP candidates had devoted significant effort, leading voters to choose a governance model that promises development and integrity. “The electorate has endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership to realize a development framework,” he said.
Expressing confidence in securing a “double-engine government” for Delhi, he asserted, “We are not shy to claim that this victory is due to PM Modi’s vision. We will guarantee a strong and stable government for Delhi.”
He took a jab at Kejriwal and the AAP, stating that the BJP campaigned based on genuine issues affecting the residents, such as inadequate roads, liquor policy scandals, contaminated water, and corruption.
“Delhi’s issues are pressing, and the people have voted for a resolution under PM Modi’s governance,” he added.
Eager supporters of the party gathered, waving flags and chanting slogans as they awaited final confirmations at the party headquarters. Demonstrating their enthusiasm, they brandished lotus-shaped cutouts, the party’s symbol, and adorned each other with saffron-colored powder.
One jubilant individual dressed in character from Aamir Khan’s “PK” declared, “This time, AAP has lost in this realm. The broom (AAP symbol) has vanished, and the lotus has flourished.”
Another supporter, Samsung Ram, who traveled from Ujjain in support of the BJP, remarked, “I’ve come here for the Bharatiya Janata Party, standing in solidarity with Narendra Modi.”
This win for the BJP in the Delhi assembly follows recent successes in Haryana and Maharashtra as part of the Mahayuti alliance, showcasing the party’s resilience despite earlier setbacks in the Lok Sabha elections where it won 240 seats but now finds rejuvenation in its assembly triumphs. (Agencies)
