Kejriwal’s Broom Grooms in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Arvind Kejriwal is all set to become the Chief Minister of Delhi for a third straight  term, as his Aam Aadmi Party  on Tuesday won 62 seats in the 70-member Assembly elections, leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party way behind and reducing the Congress to a virtual non-entity.

Kejriwal called the the massive mandate as the “birth of new kind of politics — politics of development.”

Counting of votes that was taken up on Tuesday after Saturday’s elections showed that the BJP managed to win  eight seats, five seats more than what it had got in the last election, despite a spirited campaign led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. The Sonia Gandhi-led Congress which once ruled by Sheila Dixit for 15 years fared miserably yet again as it failed to open its account in the national capital, with its candidates losing deposits in 67 constituencies.

With all the results were out, Lt Governor Anil Baijal dissolved the Assembly.

Prime Minister Modi congratulated Mr Kejriwal and wished him luck in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi.

In reply, Kejriwal said, “I look forward to working closely with Centre to make our capital city into a truly world class city.”

In the new assembly, seven women have found their space. AAP spokesperson Atishi is one among them.

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 53.60 per cent vote, BJP 38.50 pc while INC 4.27 pc. Only 0.46 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.

“Only those will be elected to power who will provide cheap electricity, Mohalla Clinics and roads to the people,” Kejriwal said, addressing his supporters in party’s headquater in Rouse Avenue.

Arvind Kejriwal won from New Delhi constituency against BJP’s Sunil Kumar Yadav by a margin of 21,697 votes.

BJP bagged Badarpur, Gandhi Nagar, Ghonda, Karawal Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Rohini, Rohtas Nagar and Vishwas Nagar seats. Among eight seats, six fall in east Delhi region.

In Rohini, Leader of the Opposition Vijendra Kuma Gupta got 12,648 more votes than his nearest rival Rajesh Nama Bansiwala of AAP.

After initial hiccups, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia registered a victory against his nearest rival Ravinder Singh Negi of the BJP in the Patparganj constituency.

In Okhla, which houses Shaheen Bhagh- the hotbed of anti-CAA protests, AAP sitting MLA Amanatullah Khan was ahead of BJP’s Braham Singh by a whopping 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 AAP won from Rajinder Nagar with more than 58,000 votes against BJP’s R P Singh.

AAP turncoat Kapil Mishra faced a defeat in the hands of AAP’s Akhilesh Pati Tripathi by 11,133 votes.

Chandni Chowk, which faced a tri-corner contest, witnessed victory of AAP’s Parlad Singh Sawhney over BJP’s Suman Kumar Gupta by 29,584 votes. AAP turncoat and Congress candidate Alka Lamba lost her deposit.

Even though Congress failed to open it’s account, senior party leader P Chidambaram congratulated Mr Kejriwal.

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.

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