New Delhi:
In a stunning turn of events, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has lost the New Delhi assembly seat, a constituency he has held since 2013. This defeat marks a significant blow to the AAP, which is on the verge of losing its decade-long grip on Delhi’s politics. As the BJP surges ahead in the majority of Delhi’s assembly seats, the city is witnessing a dramatic shift in its political landscape.
The election results have sent shockwaves, with Kejriwal finishing around 1,200 votes behind his rival, BJP’s Parvesh Verma. Verma, a former two-time BJP MP, is being hailed as a ‘giant-slayer’ and a potential future Chief Minister, following in the footsteps of his father, Sahib Singh Verma. The Congress candidate, Sandeep Dikshit, son of former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, trailed behind in the New Delhi constituency.
Kejriwal’s loss is compounded by the defeat of another high-profile AAP leader, Manish Sisodia, who surrendered his contest in the Jangpura constituency. As of 1 pm, the BJP was leading in 48 out of 70 Assembly seats, while the AAP was trailing with 22 seats. One of the few bright spots for the AAP was the victory of Chief Minister Atishi, who defeated BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri in the Kalkaji constituency.
The BJP’s comeback in Delhi after nearly three decades is a landmark event, with the party poised to end AAP’s dominance. The voter turnout for the election was recorded at 60.54%, indicating a strong public engagement in the electoral process. The final results are expected to be announced by 6 pm, with broad trends already indicating a clear shift in power.
The AAP’s defeat is also linked to the corruption charges faced by its high-profile leaders, including Kejriwal and Sisodia, in the liquor policy scam. These allegations have significantly impacted the party’s image and voter confidence. The Congress, meanwhile, continues its dismal performance in Delhi assembly elections, failing to secure any seats.
As the city absorbs the implications of these results, it is clear that the political landscape of Delhi is undergoing a profound transformation. The end of AAP’s decade-long rule raises questions about the party’s future and the direction of Delhi’s governance.
