Modi’s BJP celebrates landslide New Delhi election victory
1. "We accept the verdict and congratulate BJP," says Arvind Kejriwal
Modi’s BJP Secures Landmark Victory in Delhi Elections, Kejriwal Suffers Crushing Defeat
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured a resounding victory in Delhi’s key elections, marking a significant political shift in the capital. The former Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, suffered a decisive defeat as BJP celebrated its return to power in the city after more than two decades.
"Development has won, good governance has won," Modi declared after Kejriwal, a prominent opposition leader, lost his seat. The BJP, which governs at the national level, had not controlled Delhi’s local legislature since 1998, making this a crucial symbolic and strategic win.
“We will leave no stone unturned in ensuring the overall development of Delhi and improving the lives of its residents,” Modi stated on social media.
Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had dominated Delhi politics for nearly a decade, faced widespread losses. Accepting the verdict, Kejriwal extended his congratulations to BJP in a video statement.
As votes were tallied, jubilant BJP supporters gathered outside the party headquarters in New Delhi, waving party flags and posters of Modi while celebrating their sweeping victory.
The BJP secured 47 of the 70 assembly seats, with counting still ongoing and projections suggesting it may win at least one more seat, according to the election commission.
Parvesh Sahib Singh, widely expected to be the next Chief Minister, emerged victorious against Kejriwal. “Delhi has chosen development,” Singh remarked in his victory speech.
Singh, 47, hails from a political family—his father previously served as Delhi’s Chief Minister in the early 1990s. A former national lawmaker, Singh faced controversy in 2022 for remarks perceived as a call for a "total boycott" of Muslims, though he did not explicitly mention the community.
Interior Minister Amit Shah, a key BJP leader, hailed the victory as an endorsement of Modi’s leadership. “Our victory is a sign of the people’s faith in Prime Minister Modi’s vision of progress,” he stated, adding, “The Delhi mandate shows that people cannot be misled with lies every time.”
Kejriwal, who first gained prominence as an anti-corruption activist, faced legal troubles last year, spending several months in jail over allegations of accepting kickbacks for liquor licenses. He has denied the charges, calling them a politically motivated attack by Modi’s government.
Kejriwal played a pivotal role in forming an opposition alliance before India’s general elections last year, where the BJP suffered notable losses despite retaining power at the national level.
