New Delhi [India], February 8: Congress candidate from the New Delhi constituency, Sandeep Dikshit, conceded defeat on Saturday, acknowledging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to form the government in Delhi.
In a candid statement, Dikshit reflected on the situation, admitting that despite raising critical issues during the election campaign, the voters may not have been convinced that Congress could form a government. “As of now, it seems that they (BJP) will form the govt… We raised the issues but I think people thought that we are not going to form the govt – we accept the decision of the people,” said Dikshit.
Earlier, Latika Dikshit, the daughter of the late Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, highlighted that her mother’s legacy still lives on in the hearts of Delhi’s residents. Sheila Dikshit, who served as the Chief Minister for 15 years, is fondly remembered for her efforts in developing the city. Latika, who campaigned for her brother Sandeep, noted that during the campaign, they listened to the problems of the people and found that Arvind Kejriwal had not visited his constituency in the past decade.
According to the Election Commission data around 1 pm, the BJP was leading in 47 constituencies and had crossed the majority mark of 36 seats needed to win the 70-member Delhi Assembly. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was ahead in 22 seats, while Congress failed to secure any wins.
BJP workers were seen celebrating outside the party office, bursting firecrackers and dancing in joy, as the party appeared poised for a return to power in the national capital after 27 years.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva earlier stated that the people of Delhi had chosen Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model of governance, rejecting Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership. “The situation in Delhi—contaminated water, broken roads, poor sanitation, pollution in Yamuna—reflects the failure of Kejriwal’s governance, which the people of Delhi have rejected,” he said, emphasizing that voters had chosen “good governance.”
Sachdeva also accused AAP’s prominent leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Atishi, and Saurabh Bharadwaj, of betraying the public. “These leaders are the faces of corruption, and the people will not forgive them,” he added.
Polling for the 70-member assembly was held on February 5, with a total voter turnout of 60.54%. The BJP’s campaign, led by PM Modi, focused on criticizing AAP over issues such as pollution in the Yamuna River and the renovation of Arvind Kejriwal’s residence as Chief Minister. The PM also targeted Kejriwal with terms like “Aapda” and “Sheesh Mahal” during the campaign.