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
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- 8 Feb 2025 8:45 PM IST
People rejected AAP's corrupt rule, paved way for city's development: Delhi BJP chief
The BJP's Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva Saturday said the people of the national capital have completely rejected the "corrupt and incompetent rule" of AAP and has paved the way for the city's development by giving his party a "historic" mandate.
The BJP cleaned out the AAP in Delhi and returned to power after more than 26 years, extending its saffron imprint and dealing a devastating blow to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party whose top leadership crumbled or barely made it.
This electoral victory reflects the people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the leadership of BJP national president J P Nadda, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, said Sachdeva in a statement.
"The people of Delhi have completely rejected the corrupt and incompetent rule of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal while expressing their faith in the BJP by giving it a decisive majority," he said.
The Delhi BJP chief said Kejriwal had repeatedly claimed to be honest and had asserted that the people of Delhi would take revenge on the saffron party by voting against it in response to his imprisonment.
"However, today's results show that the people have delivered Kejriwal a massive all-round defeat, clearly indicating that he is untrustworthy," Sachdeva said.
He also thanked all Union ministers and other BJP leaders for their campaigning efforts.
- 8 Feb 2025 8:37 PM IST
BJP's vote share up by 7%, AAP's down by 10%; Cong's rises by 2%
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which was routed in the Delhi Assembly elections saw the erosion of nearly 10 percentage points in its vote share while the winner BJP not only saw a resurgence but also a significant increase in its vote share.
The BJP was out of power in the national capital for over 26 years.
A win on any seat remained elusive for the Congress even as it saw a marginal improvement in its vote share.
AAP secured a vote share of 43.57 per cent, down from 53.57 per cent in the 2020 polls. In the 2015 Assembly elections, it had secured 54.5 per cent of the votes.
In 2020 and 2015, the party won a massive mandate by securing 67 and 62 seats respectively. However, this time it was restricted to only 22 seats.
The BJP, which is returning to power, secured a vote share of 45.56 per cent and won 48 seats. The saffron party's vote share rose from 38.51 per cent in 2020 and 32.3 per cent in the 2015 elections.
The Congress, which was in power in Delhi for 15 years from 1998 to 2013, did not win any seat and secured a vote share of 6.34 per cent. The only consolation for the grand old party was the fact that it saw an improvement of 2.1 per cent in vote share over The party polled 6.34 per cent of the valid votes as against 4.3 per cent in the 2020 assembly polls, denting its INDIA bloc partner AAP across segments.
- 8 Feb 2025 8:35 PM IST
Gujarat BJP celebrates Delhi victory, calls it defeat of Kejriwal’s ‘arrogance’
Gujarat BJP on Saturday celebrated the party’s stunning victory in the Delhi polls with fireworks and sweets, with Union minister CR Paatil calling it a defeat of Arvind Kejriwal’s “arrogance”.
The results also reflect people’s faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to taking everyone along, he said.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and senior leaders gathered at the party’s state headquarters ‘Kamalam’ in the state capital Gandhinagar to celebrate the BJP’s victory in Delhi after more than 26 years.
The BJP won or was leading in 48 of the 70 seats, comfortably over the majority mark of 36, leaving AAP with only 22 seats, as per the Election Commission website. Among the giants who lost were ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal and his trusted aide Manish Sisodia.
Paatil told reporters in Surat that the people of the national capital have understood the benefits of a double-engine government (same party in power in the state and Centre).
“Prime Minister Modi did not make false promises as he believes in healthy competition and taking not just a state but the entire country together. This victory is the defeat of Kejriwal's arrogance,” said Paatil.
Targeting the Congress, the Gujarat BJP chief said that the national party failed to open its account in Delhi which shows that people by now have seen through them.
“People have trusted the BJP and made its candidates victorious because they see their future bright in the hands of PM Modi. Now people will get the benefits of central schemes they had been deprived of. The middle class feels the BJP does not exploit the poor for votes but keeps every section of society together,” he said.
Paatil, who also represents the Navsari Lok Sabha constituency in the state, claimed that the AAP had gained power by making false promises and exploiting the ‘revdi’ (freebee) culture.
“This time, people have shown their faith in Modi sahab’s merit, reposed faith in his working style, and the fact that he takes everyone together, knowing the benefits of forming a double-engine government,” he said.
- 8 Feb 2025 8:34 PM IST
Himachal BJP erupts in celebration as party sweeps Delhi polls
The Himachal Pradesh unit of BJP on Saturday celebrated the party's big victory in Delhi Assembly polls with multiple rallies, marking the saffron party's return to power in the national capital after more than 26 years.
The BJP swept the polls with 48 seats against the AAP's 22, while the Congress failed to open its account for the third time in a row, according to the Election Commission data.
Former Himachal Pradesh chief minister Jai Ram Thakur and state BJP president Rajiv Bindal led the victory celebrations in Shimla and Nahan, respectively.
Addressing a rally in Shimla, Thakur said, "People of the capital have given a decisive mandate to the BJP. Delhi will now progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reap the benefits of a double-engine government." Crediting Prime Minister Modi for the victory, Thakur said, "Voters of Delhi have chosen development, corruption-free governance, and a stable government." Attacking the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its convenor Arvind Kejriwal, Thakur said the party failed to address burning issues such as corruption and broken roads, avoided accountability, besides introducing a controversial liquor policy.
"People of Delhi suffered under AAP and that's why they voted for change," he said.
On Congress' dismal show in Delhi, Thakur said Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu campaigned for party candidate Alka Lamba, but she not only lost but also forfeited her security.
- 8 Feb 2025 8:25 PM IST
Kejriwal, Rahul Gandhi cut from same cloth, both spread lies: Kishan Reddy
Alleging that AAP's Arvind Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi are cut from the same cloth as they "compete with each other" in spreading lies and provoking people, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Saturday said people of Delhi rejected them in assembly polls and reposed faith in the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking to reporters here, Reddy, president of BJP in Telangana, expressed confidence that the saffron party would win whenever elections are held in Telangana, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh where Congress is in power.
Kejriwal, who came to politics on the promise of fighting against corruption, became the 'Care of' address of corruption, he said.
The AAP national convenor stooped so low that he alleged Haryana poisoned Yamuna, Reddy said.
Kejriwal also made comments with arrogance that PM Narendra Modi cannot defeat AAP in his present birth, he said.
During the election campaign, Kejriwal stated that people would give a verdict on whether he is guilty in the alleged Delhi liquor scam and people have given their decision now, Reddy said.
The situation of Congress is pitiable as it did not win even a single seat in 2015, 2020 and 2025 assembly polls in Delhi, he said.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi's oft-repeated allegation that the Constitution is under threat during the Modi regime, Reddy said it is proved once again that people would not vote if a copy of Constitution is carried in the hand but only if Constitutional values are followed.
"Kejriwal and Rahul Gandhi are cut from the same cloth. They compete with each other in spreading lies and provoking people. They stoop to any low for the sake of power," he said.
Rahul Gandhi showed the country in a poor light when he was on foreign soil, the BJP leader said.
"As long as Rahul Gandhi leads Congress, the party will not have future in the country," he said.
The Union Coal Minister also alleged that credit is given to Rahul Gandhi when Congress wins in states like Telangana and Himachal, but EVMs and the Election Commission are blamed when the party loses in states like Maharashtra.
Reddy, who held a meeting with party leaders on Saturday on the MLC poll to be held in Telangana for three seats on February 27, expressed confidence that the BJP candidates would win the election.
- 8 Feb 2025 8:21 PM IST
Delhi election results point towards beginning of AAP's end: Punjab Cong leader Bajwa
Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa on Saturday claimed that the Delhi election outcome points towards the "beginning of AAP's end", saying the Bhagwant Mann government will meet the "same fate" in the 2027 assembly polls in Punjab.
The BJP cleaned out the AAP in Delhi and returned to power after more than 26 years, extending its saffron imprint and dealing a devastating blow to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party whose top leadership crumbled or barely made it.
"The @AamAadmiParty tasted a humiliating defeat in Delhi. With this defeat, a regime of deceitfulness, lies and hollow promises has ended," Bajwa, who is Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly, said in a post on X.
The Congress leader said AAP supremo Kejriwal once said that if he (Kejriwal) is corrupt, people wouldn't vote for him. "Now he has lost his own seat. Does that mean that the people of Delhi consider him corrupt? The people of Punjab have also seen the real face of the so-called Kattar Imaandar party," Bajwa said.
Slamming the AAP on its promises, he said, "Kejriwal and Punjab CM @BhagwantMann made lofty promises in Punjab to befool Punjabis and garner their votes in 2022. The @AAPPunjab has yet to provide Rs 1,000 pm to women. It failed to raise Rs 20,000 crore from mining." "The Mann govt will meet the same fate in 2027. Delhi's results point towards the beginning of AAP's end," Bajwa said while hitting out at the AAP's outgoing Delhi government.
Bajwa said Kejriwal, his deputy Manish Sisodia and other AAP leaders lost the Delhi Assembly seats due to "being neck deep in corruption, non-performance and sheer arrogance".
"The party that dubbed itself to be the most honest was facing corruption charges worth crores of rupees," he alleged earlier in a statement.
"Kejriwal, who was unable to retain his own seat, was arrogant to the core when he refused to resign from the post of chief minister even after being jailed for corruption," said Bajwa.
