Guwahati: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal praised the electorate for “believing” in him as he led the Aam Aadmi Party to an astonishing victory in the civic body elections on Wednesday. He also asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his “blessings” in order to improve the city.
Kejriwal was speaking to party members and candidates after the AAP and BJP each took home 134 seats out of the 250 wards in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections.
“I congratulate the people of Delhi for this win and thank them for bringing change. We have fulfilled the responsibilities that the people of Delhi gave us. I am indebted to you for believing in me and giving me love. We all have to work together. I appeal to all the candidates and parties that politics was only till today, we all have to work for the betterment of Delhi,” Kejriwal said.
The Chief Minister sought cooperation from the BJP and Congress in working “together” for the city.
“I want cooperation from the BJP and the Congress. I expect their cooperation. I appeal to the Centre and ask for the Prime Minister’s blessings to make Delhi better. We have to make MCD corruption-free. Today, the people of Delhi have given a message to the entire nation,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann were also present on the occasion.
Sisodia said that the people of Delhi gave the BJP the order to leave office.
“The people of Delhi have not only given the mandate to make Kejriwal win, but also to oust the BJP from the MCD. It is not just a victory but a big responsibility to clean the city,” he said.
The Aam Aadmi Party overthrew the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) 15-year reign of the city’s civic body with its victory in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi polls on Wednesday.
Celebrations got underway at the Aam Aadmi Party office in the national capital well before the final results were announced because trends suggested that the party is likely to unseat the BJP in the MCD.
The party workers gathered in front of the office and rejoiced, danced and chanted slogans praising party chief Arvind Kejriwal.
In a closely contested contest, the BJP originally held the lead in the early trends for about one and a half hours. However, the trends started to change as the AAP took the lead and kept it till the final results were announced.
The BJP claimed to have won the election for the fourth time as counting got underway at 8 am while the AAP voiced confidence in winning the elections.
“The BJP has got the answer today that the people of Delhi vote for those who work, and not for the ones who defame. The BJP fielded its MPs, Ministers, CBI and ED, but the people of Delhi still voted for the AAP. The people have given a befitting reply to the BJP for the allegations that it levelled against Kejriwal. We will make Delhi the most beautiful city in the world,” Raghav Chadha said earlier.
The intense campaigning that took place before the election on December 4 saw both the BJP and the AAP making claims and denials about winning the vote. However, all came down to December 7, when the results of the election was revealed.