BJP celebrated historic win in Delhi, as AAP and Congress faced crushing defeats, marking a significant political shift.
New Delhi: As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated the end of its 27-year-long exile from power in Delhi, the atmosphere at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) headquarters at 1 Pandit Ravi Shankar Shukla Lane was in stark contrast. The party’s office in Lutyens’ Delhi was temporarily shut down, while celebrations erupted at the nearby BJP headquarters, which was decked in saffron hues. Party workers rejoiced with enthusiastic dancing and the distribution of sweets. A similar scene unfolded at the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) office on DDU Marg, which appeared desolate after suffering a significant electoral loss to the BJP.
The election results signified a monumental shift in Delhi’s political landscape, with the BJP securing a decisive majority, leading in 48 out of 70 seats, while AAP trailed behind with only 22. This outcome marked the end of AAP’s decade-long reign in the capital.
AAP’s headquarters, initially adorned with modest decorations and bustling with party workers and media personnel, gradually emptied as the vote counting progressed. The party’s presence thinned as the early trends revealed a significant lead for the BJP. Not only did party workers begin to vacate the premises, but senior leaders were notably absent as well. It is widely believed that AAP’s defeat stemmed
Key AAP leaders, including party supremo Arvind Kejriwal, former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, ex-Health Minister Satyendar Jain, Delhi Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with prominent figures such as Durgesh Pathak and Somnath Bharti, faced electoral defeats.
However, amidst the overwhelming losses, a silver lining emerged for AAP in the form of Atishi’s victory from the Kalkaji constituency. Despite the party’s dismal performance, Atishi managed to secure a win against BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri by a margin of over 3,521 votes in a tightly contested battle. Addressing reporters after her victory, she expressed gratitude to the people of Kalkaji for their support, acknowledging her team’s efforts against what she described as ‘baahubal’ (muscle power).
She stated, “We respect the people’s mandate. Though I have won, this is not a time for celebration but a moment to continue our struggle against the BJP’s dictatorship and hooliganism.”
A similar grim atmosphere loomed over the Delhi Congress office, which neither bore festive decorations nor witnessed any significant presence of party workers. The subdued mood on the counting day indicated that Congress had anticipated the unfavourable outcome.
The Congress party, once a dominant force in Delhi’s political arena with an uninterrupted 15-year rule from 1998 to 2013, suffered yet another crushing defeat, failing to secure a single seat in the Assembly elections for the third consecutive time. Despite leading an aggressive campaign spearheaded by former party president Rahul Gandhi, Congress failed to sway Delhi’s voters, reinforcing its electoral decline in the city. However, the party did manage to increase its vote share by nearly 2%, offering a minuscule consolation amid the dismal results.
Although the Congress failed to make electoral gains, its participation significantly impacted the AAP’s prospects. By cutting into AAP’s vote share, Congress indirectly contributed to BJP’s victory. In response to allegations from AAP, Congress leaders dismissed any responsibility for ensuring AAP’s success, emphasising that their primary focus was on their own electoral fight.
While Congress candidates weakened AAP’s stronghold in several key constituencies, BJP’s superior campaign strategy and voter appeal ultimately sealed its decisive win. A report by The Sunday Guardian identified 11 constituencies where top AAP leaders suffered narrow defeats to BJP candidates while Congress candidates managed to secure a substantial vote share. These constituencies included New Delhi, Jangpura, Greater Kailash, Malviya Nagar, Timarpur, Badli, Rajinder Nagar, Nangloi Jat, Sangam Vihar, Chhatarpur, and Trilokpuri.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders and workers erupted into celebrations at the party headquarters in New Delhi.
Expressing gratitude to the people of Delhi, BJP leader Manoj Tiwari assured citizens that the new government would focus on the city’s development. He also took a dig at AAP, declaring that the party had no future in Delhi or any other state.
In an elated statement, Tiwari remarked, “Words cannot express our happiness. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Delhi. They have placed their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guarantee. Our government will work tirelessly for the development of Delhi. As for AAP, it is finished. There is no future for AAP in Delhi, Punjab, or anywhere in the country.”