AAP retains power in Delhi by defeating BJP in 2-cornered assembly elections which saw see-contests in several constitutions

By PK Chakravarty

Ruling AAP led by bureaucrat turned politico Arvind Kejriwal has retained power in the Union Territory of Delhi for the third successive term by defeating BJP. In the 70-Member Legislative Assembly it has bagged  63 seats and BJP which had three seats, has won 7 seats. India’s oldest political organization, INC, could not win a single seat as in the previous elections held in 2014.INC led by iconic Sheila Dixit had lost power to AAP in 2014 after heading the Delhi government for 15 years. In the just concluded assembly elections, BJP was in alliance with   Bihar based JD-U and LJP.increased vote-share ten percent whereas AAP’s vote remains 50 percent. INC +, however, failed to retain its 5 per cent vote share. Its candidates may lose security deposits in as many 60 out of 70 constituencies. After the political departure of INC, Delhi has now two major political parties -ruling AAP and BJP as the main Opposition. Lalu Prasad headed RJD which contested the elections in alliance with INC has bitten the dust. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, her Kerala counterpart Pinayari Vijayan, DMK chief MK Stalin, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Congress leaders including Adhir Ranjan Choudhury have congratulated CM Kejriwal for emphatically winning the keenly contested poll. Kejriwal says people have appreciated his development programs. As some analysts say Kejriwal connect with the people of the cosmopolitical Union Territory, particularly the minority community’s apprehension about CAA and NPR has paid him appreciable electoral dividends.  Brand Modi did push up BJP’s tally though the Prime Minister did just two rallies the lack of a local face hurt the BJP the most. The BJPs campaign cantered around Shaheen Bagh did not make many dents in Kejriwal’s strong development pitch and his campaign centred around the need for continuity for his government for another five years. BJP Spokesman Amit Malavia says Delhi assembly results are a disappointment but there are plenty of positives for the BJP, which will be built on over the next five years. For the first time in decades, BJP’s vote share in Assembly elections has gone past 33% mark. Delhi is now bipolar with BJP as the only challenger.