As AAP ends 15-year BJP rule in MCD, Kejriwal seeks PM Modi's 'blessings' to improve Delhi

PTI

New Delhi, December 7

The Aam Aadmi Party on Wednesday won the MCD polls with 134 seats, ending the 15-year rule of the BJP in the prestigious municipal corporation and reducing the Congress to just nine seats in a house of 250.

In his first address after the victory, an elated Arvind Kejriwal vowed to improve civic amenities in the national capital, and sought the "blessings" of the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to achieve that.

The BJP, which was predicted to suffer a massive defeat in exit polls, put up a spirited fight, winning 104 municipal wards, while the Congress managed to win just nine, down from 30 in the previous civic poll. Three independents also emerged victorious.

In his address to party workers at the AAP office, the chief minister said the civic body will be rid of "corruption and bribery".

His deputy Manish Sisodia also thanked the voters of Delhi and said it was their mandate that helped the AAP defeat the "world's biggest and most negative party".

The counting of votes began at 8 am at 42 centres across Delhi amid tight security, and initial trends was in favour of the BJP. At one point, the BJP was leading in 107 seats and the Aam Aadmi Party in 95.

But as the counting progressed, the AAP went past the BJP and slowly consolidated the lead, finally winning 134 wards. The BJP bagged 104 seats, thus not losing as badly as was predicted by the exit polls.

Independent candidate Shakeela Begum has won the Seelampur seat in northeast Delhi.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh said the barely 10-year-old party has "defeated" the largest party of the country (BJP) in their stronghold. "The results have once again proved the AAP is a hardcore honest party." Singh also said the results were remarkable considering the BJP had gone all guns blazing, deploying all its top leaders, including 17 central ministers, for campaigning.

Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta said, "Despite 15 years of anti-incumbency, our performance is better. We worked for the people of Delhi at the municipal corporations but may be some people were not happy. There was no anger against the BJP though." The mood at the AAP's office on Rouse Avenue was celebratory since morning with patriotic songs blaring through loudspeakers and the entire premises decked up with colourful balloons.

As the pendulum swung in the AAP's favour, celebrations picked up with supporters carrying party flags distributing sweets and dancing to the beat of drums.

Supporters and leaders, including Gopal Rai, Atishi and Durgesh Pathak, started gathering at the office as counting progressed and numbers swung in favour of the AAP.

Hoardings reading 'acche honge 5 saal, MCD mein bhi Kejriwal (next five years will be good as Kejriwal has come in the MCD)' lined the street outside as supporters revelled to the AAP's official poll song 'MCD mein Arvind Kejriwal'.

Addressing AAP workers at the party office, Kejriwal batted for positive politics in the country to ensure India becomes number one country in the world.

"We all have to improve the condition of Delhi and I need cooperation of all, including the BJP and Congress. We need cooperation of all, especially the help and blessings of the Centre and the prime minister to do so," he said.

With defeat in the MCD polls, the BJP's 15-year rule at the civic body came to an end. The defeat will also dent the BJP's efforts to weaken the AAP's political dominance in Delhi, and harm its chances in the 2025 assembly polls.

The party ruled Delhi for 15 years under the chief ministership of Sheila Dikshit, but ceded its space to AAP after 2013. The party failed to win a single seat in Delhi in two Lok Sabha polls and as many Assembly elections between 2014 and 2020.

The BJP trounced both the AAP and the Congress by winning 181 of 272 wards of the three municipal corporations in the 2017 elections. The AAP in its civic polls debut won 48 and the Congress 30 wards.

Earlier this year, the Centre merged the three municipal corporations into MCD having a total 250 wards.

12:07 07 Dec

Transgender candidate Bobi wins from Sultanpuri

AAP leader and the lone transgender candidate in the fray for MCD polls Bobi on Wednesday won from the Sultanpuri-A ward, according to the State Election Commission.

Bobi defeated Congress candidate Varuna Dhaka by a margin of 6,714 votes.

After being chosen to represent the party, Bobi had said she wants to beautify her constituency and improve the lives of her neighbours.

Bobi had said that she would work to weed out corruption from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

11:23 07 Dec

AAP wins 36 seats, BJP 32

MCD results at 11.15 am: State Election Commission says AAP wins 36 seats, BJP 32 and Congress 4.

10:51 07 Dec

BJP wins 10 seats, AAP 6 as first MCD results out         

The BJP has won 10 seats and the AAP six in the MCD polls, according to the State Election Commission, as the counting of votes continues.

Sultana Abad of the AAP won the Jama Masjid ward, while the party's Sarika Chaudhary defeated Congress' Farhad Suri by a margin of 244 votes in the Daryaganj seat.

The BJP's Alka Raghav emerged victorious in Laxmi Nagar by a margin of 3,819 votes, while the party's Rohini D candidate Smita also registered a win.

The AAP's Ankush Narang has won from the Ranjeet Nagar seat.

09:46 07 Dec

Will get over 180 seats: AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj

AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj says the party will get more than 180 seats.

#DelhiMCDPolls | We are going to get more than 180 seats. If voters favour us, we can also cross 230 seats. Mayor will be from our party. I think exit polls are pointing towards the victory of Aam Aadmi Party: AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj pic.twitter.com/r8OX23BdzS

— ANI (@ANI) December 7, 2022

09:37 07 Dec

AAP exudes confidence despite trailing in early trends          

The Aam Aadmi Party exuded confidence it will emerge victorious by winning more than 180 of the total 250 seats in the MCD polls, even though initial trends put the BJP in the lead.

Early trends showed the BJP was ahead of the AAP. The Congress was a distant third.

AAP chief spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj told reporters, "The trends will change and we will emerge victorious in more than 180 seats. We have decked up our office and as soon as trends change we will celebrate. The BJP did not cite any achievement of their 15-year tenure in the MCD during the campaigning."          

Most exit polls have predicted a huge win for the AAP over the BJP with the Congress being a distant third.  Delhi BJP vice-president Virendra Sachdeva said it is going to be a tough contest.

 

08:56 07 Dec

1,349 candidates

The high-stakes election to the 250 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was held on December 4, sealing the electoral fate of 1,349 candidates in voting machines. A voter turnout of 50.48 per cent was registered in the elections.

08:56 07 Dec

AAP claims 200 seats

AAP has been ruling Delhi for two consecutive terms. The party has claimed that it will win more than 200 of the 250 wards.

08:50 07 Dec

Exit Polls

Exit polls on Monday predicted a clear majority to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

AAP may get 149-171,  a survey by Aaj Tak-Axis My India, which gives the BJP 69-91 wards.

Times Now-ETG has predicted 146-156 wards for AAP, with BJP getting 84-94.

News X-Jan Ki Baat exit poll, AAP will bag 159-175 wards, and the BJP 70-92.

Zee News-BARC survey predicts AAP 134-146 wards, BJP 82-94, and Congress 8-14.

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