LIVE | BJP sweeps Delhi elections; people have short-circuited short-cut politics: Modi
The saffron party won 48 seats, while the AAP could muster only 22 of the 70 Assembly seats
The BJP on Saturday (February 8) secured a resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, returning to power after 27 years, and ending the Aam Aadmi Party’s decade-long reign in the national capital.
While the BJP won 48 of the 70 Assembly seats, the AAP could secure wins in just 22 constituencies. The Congress on the other hand was left red-faced, unable to open its account in Delhi for the third time in a row.
AAP's vote share dwindles, Congress' rises by 2%
In the 2019 Assembly polls, the AAP had bagged 62 seats while the BJP had won only eight.
The polls saw the BJP’s vote share rise by 7 per cent and the AAP’s fall by 10 per cent. The Congress despite drawing a blank improved its vote share by 2.1 per cent hike by polling 6.34 per cent of the valid votes as against 4.3 per cent in 2020.
What came as a major embarrassment for the AAP was the defeat of its top guns including party chief Arvind Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Chief Minister Atishi and three ministers in the outgoing AAP government – Gopal Rai, Mukesh Ahlawat and Imran Hussain – however managed to secure wins, offering a rare consolation for the party.
Modi’s 'AAP-da', 'short-circuit' dig
Hailing the BJP's victory as "historic", Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a stinging attack on the AAP and the Congress, saying the country needs a serious political transformation and not politics of "dhoort-ta (deceit) and moorkhta (foolishness)".
He said the people of Delhi have "short-circuited the politics of short cuts" and asserted that the mandate has made it clear that there's no space for corruption and lies in politics.
Addressing party workers and supporters at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, Modi said these 'AAP-da' people came into politics saying that they will change politics but they emerged as "kattar baimaan (most dishonest)".
The prime minister said the people of Delhi have shown the door to 'AAP-da' and now a double-engine government will ensure development at a double speed.
‘Double-speed development for Delhi’
He said Delhiites are celebrating BJP's victory and respite from 'AAP-da', a term he used throughout the campaign to criticise the Aam Aadmi Party's rule.
"People of Delhi today have enthusiasm and satisfaction. There is relief of liberating Delhi from 'AAP-da'. I thank all Delhiites for entrusting their faith in 'Modi ki guarantee'," the prime minister said in his address from BJP headquarters.
"Now Delhi's double-engine government will ensure development at double speed. It is a historic win and not a usual victory as the people of Delhi have shown the door to 'AAP-da'. Delhi has become Aapda-mukt," Modi said.
‘Gold medal in defeat’: PM's swipe at Cong
Training his guns on the Congress, Modi said people have again given a big message to the opposition party and it has secured a "double hat-trick" in the national capital by failing to open account in six elections.
"These people are giving themselves the gold medal in defeat. The truth is that the country is not willing to trust the Congress. I had said the last time that the Congress has become a parasitic party. It drowns and takes down its allies with it," he said.
Modi claimed that the Congress is finishing off its allies one by one and its manner is also very interesting as it steals the issues and language of its coalition partners to dent their vote bank.
Read our election stories here
Delhi elections: BJP upbeat about win; AAP, Cong reject exit polls, flay EC ‘AAP-da’: Day before Delhi voting, Modi targets Kejriwal in Parliament
Decoding Delhi election: Who has edge in high-stakes battle?
Congress promises to bring back glory of Sheila Dikshit's rule in Delhi
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Live Updates
- 8 Feb 2025 9:42 AM GMT
Atishi: Will continue 'war' against BJP
Delhi's outgoing CM Atishi: "I thank the people of Kalkaji for showing trust in me. I congratulate my team who worked against 'baahubal'. We accept the people's mandate. I have won but it's not a time to celebrate but continue the 'war' against the BJP."
Atishis won from Kalkaji constituency.
- 8 Feb 2025 9:38 AM GMT
Nadda: 'Today, Delhi is free from AAP's lies, deceit and fraud'
BJP National President JP Nadda in a post in Hindi on X, said, "Today, the massive victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the results of the Delhi Assembly elections is a victory of the unwavering support of the people on the policies of service, good governance, poor welfare, Antyodaya and development under the able leadership of the Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to our BJP workers and state leadership who worked tirelessly at every booth."
"The 'AAP-Da' government had crossed all limits of corruption, misgovernance and appeasement in Delhi. Today, Delhi is free from their lies, deceit and fraud and is beginning its journey into a new era of progress and prestige. This mandate will give a concrete shape to our resolution of 'Developed Delhi-Developed India'. I express my gratitude to the Prime Minister for this landslide victory and congratulate all BJP workers and the people of Delhi."
- 8 Feb 2025 9:27 AM GMT
Gadkari: 'Will make Delhi free of pollution and make it world's most beautiful city'
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari says, "The faith of the people of Delhi in BJP is very important. We will make Delhi free of pollution and we want to make it the world's most beautiful city. The face of Delhi will change. I thank the people... Our victory is much bigger than expected."
