Aam Aadmi Party supremo and former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal suffered a stunning defeat in his New Delhi bastion, falling to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Parvesh Verma by a margin of 3,182 votes.
This unexpected political setback signalled the AAP’s waning influence in the national capital as the BJP returned to power after a 27-year hiatus.
As per the updated ECI data at 3 p.m., BJP has secured 12 seats and maintains a lead in 38 constituencies. The Aam Aadmi Party has claimed victory in 10 seats and is leading in 10 more. The Congress remains without a single win so far.
Accepting the defeat with humility, Kejriwal remarked, "We accept the mandate of the people with great humility. I congratulate the BJP for this victory and I hope they will fulfil all the promises for which people have voted them. We have done a lot of work in the field of health, education, infrastructure in the last 10 years. We will not only play the role of a constructive opposition but will also remain among the people and continue to serve them."
Kejriwal's political journey hits roadblock
Once hailed as a symbol of the anti-corruption crusade led by Anna Hazare, Kejriwal had previously won the New Delhi seat in 2013 by defeating Congress stalwart Sheila Dikshit.
His successive victories in 2015 and 2020 cemented his dominance over the constituency.
Also read: 'Was saying for long...AAP didn’t understand': Hazare slams Kejriwal
However, this election saw his fortunes decline amid allegations of corruption and controversies surrounding the construction of his lavish residence, dubbed the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ by political adversaries.
Meanwhile, AAP’s Atishi managed a significant victory in the Kalkaji constituency, defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri after trailing through initial rounds of counting, offering a glimmer of hope for the party.
Verma emerges as BJP’s soldier of fortune
Parvesh Verma’s triumph over Kejriwal in the prestigious New Delhi constituency marked a landmark achievement for the two-time West Delhi MP.
As the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma, Verma's political credentials were bolstered by his longstanding association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), where he served as a 'shakha pramukh'.
During his spirited campaign, Verma accused Kejriwal of ignoring civic issues and highlighted the pollution of the Yamuna River by immersing Kejriwal's effigy in its polluted waters.
In a jubilant tweet following his victory, Verma said, "The darkness has gone, the sun rose, the lotus bloomed. Delhi has chosen development. This victory is of Delhi's faith, this victory is for the future of Delhi."
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