After a decade-long hold on the New Delhi assembly seat, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal loses to BJP’s Parvesh Verma as the saffron party secures a strong lead in the Delhi elections.
New Delhi, February 8: In a major electoral upset, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lost his New Delhi assembly seat to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by a margin of 4,089 votes, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on Saturday.
Kejriwal, who had held the seat since defeating former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit in 2013, managed to secure 25,999 votes, while Verma led with 30,088 votes. Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit performed poorly, securing only 4,568 votes, according to EC data.
Kejriwal Concedes Defeat, Wishes BJP Success
In a video message posted on X, Kejriwal accepted the election results with humility and congratulated the BJP on its victory.
“We accept the mandate of the people with great humility. I congratulate the BJP for this victory, and I hope they will fulfill all the promises for which people have voted for them,” Kejriwal stated.
Despite the defeat, Kejriwal reaffirmed AAP’s commitment to serving the people, highlighting the party’s contributions to education, healthcare, and infrastructure over the past decade.
“We have done a lot of work in the field of health, education, and 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. We did not come into politics for the sake of power; we considered politics as a medium to serve the people,” he added.
BJP Poised to Return to Power After 27 Years
With a resounding lead in the Delhi elections, the BJP is set to form the government in the national capital for the first time in 27 years.
As per the latest updates from the Election Commission of India (ECI):
- BJP has won 35 seats and is leading in 13 others, giving it a stronghold in the 70-member Delhi Assembly.
- AAP has won 16 seats and is leading on 6, reflecting a sharp decline in its support.
- Congress has failed to secure even a single seat for the third consecutive election, marking another dismal performance.
With these results, Delhi is witnessing a political shift, signaling the end of AAP’s decade-long dominance and paving the way for a BJP-led government in the national capital.