LIVE: Power shift in capital Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal makes stunning debut - Hindustan Times
The Congress was headed for a rout in Delhi on Sunday, with the BJP seemingly on the winning track but the debutant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) putting up a spectacular show in the battle for the 70-member assembly.
In Delhi's most keenly watched contest, AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal surged past chief minister Sheila Dikshit in the New Delhi assembly constituency, officials said. He was ahead of his two main rivals with 5,674 votes to his credit against 2,041 of Dikshit, who has been the chief minister of Delhi since 1998.
Trends showed that Delhi was likely to end up with a hung assembly with no party receiving a clear majority. According to latest reports, the BJP was leading in 32 seats, while the AAP was ahead in 29 seats. The Congress was headed for a rude shock with leads in only eight constituencies.
"Delhi has seen a pro-Aam Aadmi Party wave, not pro-Modi or pro-BJP wave," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. "In Delhi, we accept the verdict and will examine the results. We will find out what has gone wrong," Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan said.
Minutes before counting of Delhi assembly election votes began on Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached many of the AAP candidates. He, however, stressed that his party won't provide support to any other political outfit.
"We have done our best, now the results will tell. But it will be a victory for the people and the Indian politics will very soon see a change," Kejriwal told CNN-IBN on Sunday morning.
"We do not think of posts, we think of the nation," he said when asked whether his party was thinking about Cabinet formation if AAP wins.
The state witnessed a record voting of more than 66% on Wednesday, the highest ever since it became a state in 1993. Both BJP and debutant Aam Aadmi Party have claimed the high turnout will work in their favour.
The BJP had thrown in all its might behind the polls. The party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi held five rallies in the metropolis. Its Delhi leaders and activists organised at least 230 public meetings in 10 days alone.
It had promised voters 85% seats in Delhi colleges will be reserved for Delhiites or alternatively, Delhiites to be given 4% concession in marks, a parking master plan, single window clearance for setting up new businesses, mono rail and adding more coaches to Metro train and lifelong availability of essential drugs.
It had also promised introduction of special provisions for students from north-east states: a 24-hour helpline and special arrangements at police stations besides expanding availability of domestic help and reduce their exploitation by introducing special training centres.
A string of corruption scandals such as Commonwealth Games irregularities and the outrage over the lack of security for women in the wake of the brutal gang rape of a nursing student have been read as potential anti-incumbency factors.
The Congress' tally of seats has been steadily falling since 1998, when it regained power. In that year, it won 52 seats and BJP 15.
The party again had a convenient majority in 2003 elections, when it won 47 seats against the BJP's 20. In 2008, Congress won 43 seats against BJP's 23.
Delhi has witnessed a triangular fight twice in the past. Once, the Congress benefited from it and the next time the BJP got the better of its adversaries.
In the previous triangular fights, the Congress led by HKL Bhagat, Delhi's strongman, humbled the BJP in the Delhi Metropolitan Council (the elected body before the Assembly was constituted) elections in 1983 largely because the Janata Party nominees split the anti-Congress vote.
In 1993, the BJP campaign spearheaded by Madan Lal Khurana, the party's best-known face in the capital, trounced the Congress since the presence of Janata Dal nominees split the secular vote.
The Janata Dal led by Ramvir Singh Bidhuri had a secret understanding with Khurana and the Congress had no answers to superior tactics.
The Congress was headed for a rout in Delhi on Sunday, with the BJP seemingly on the winning track but the debutant Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) putting up a spectacular show in the battle for the 70-member assembly.
In Delhi's most keenly watched contest, AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal surged past chief minister Sheila Dikshit in the New Delhi assembly constituency, officials said. He was ahead of his two main rivals with 5,674 votes to his credit against 2,041 of Dikshit, who has been the chief minister of Delhi since 1998.
Trends showed that Delhi was likely to end up with a hung assembly with no party receiving a clear majority. According to latest reports, the BJP was leading in 32 seats, while the AAP was ahead in 29 seats. The Congress was headed for a rude shock with leads in only eight constituencies.
"Delhi has seen a pro-Aam Aadmi Party wave, not pro-Modi or pro-BJP wave," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. "In Delhi, we accept the verdict and will examine the results. We will find out what has gone wrong," Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan said.
Minutes before counting of Delhi assembly election votes began on Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal alleged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had approached many of the AAP candidates. He, however, stressed that his party won't provide support to any other political outfit.
"We have done our best, now the results will tell. But it will be a victory for the people and the Indian politics will very soon see a change," Kejriwal told CNN-IBN on Sunday morning.
"We do not think of posts, we think of the nation," he said when asked whether his party was thinking about Cabinet formation if AAP wins.
The state witnessed a record voting of more than 66% on Wednesday, the highest ever since it became a state in 1993. Both BJP and debutant Aam Aadmi Party have claimed the high turnout will work in their favour.
The BJP had thrown in all its might behind the polls. The party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi held five rallies in the metropolis. Its Delhi leaders and activists organised at least 230 public meetings in 10 days alone.
It had promised voters 85% seats in Delhi colleges will be reserved for Delhiites or alternatively, Delhiites to be given 4% concession in marks, a parking master plan, single window clearance for setting up new businesses, mono rail and adding more coaches to Metro train and lifelong availability of essential drugs.
It had also promised introduction of special provisions for students from north-east states: a 24-hour helpline and special arrangements at police stations besides expanding availability of domestic help and reduce their exploitation by introducing special training centres.
A string of corruption scandals such as Commonwealth Games irregularities and the outrage over the lack of security for women in the wake of the brutal gang rape of a nursing student have been read as potential anti-incumbency factors.
The Congress' tally of seats has been steadily falling since 1998, when it regained power. In that year, it won 52 seats and BJP 15.
The party again had a convenient majority in 2003 elections, when it won 47 seats against the BJP's 20. In 2008, Congress won 43 seats against BJP's 23.
Delhi has witnessed a triangular fight twice in the past. Once, the Congress benefited from it and the next time the BJP got the better of its adversaries.
In the previous triangular fights, the Congress led by HKL Bhagat, Delhi's strongman, humbled the BJP in the Delhi Metropolitan Council (the elected body before the Assembly was constituted) elections in 1983 largely because the Janata Party nominees split the anti-Congress vote.
In 1993, the BJP campaign spearheaded by Madan Lal Khurana, the party's best-known face in the capital, trounced the Congress since the presence of Janata Dal nominees split the secular vote.
The Janata Dal led by Ramvir Singh Bidhuri had a secret understanding with Khurana and the Congress had no answers to superior tactics.
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