Delhi polls verdict: AAP shines,body blow to Cong,BJP short of majority

Following the trends that showed that Congress was facing a rout in the Assembly,Dikshit conceded defeat sending her resignation to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and said the party will analyse what went wrong in the election.

Sheila accepts defeat

“We accept our defeat and we will analyse what went wrong. We respect what the people of Delhi have decided and thank them for supporting us for last 15 years,” Dikshit told reporters at her residence during a brief appearance after sending her resignation to Jung.

The three-term Chief Minister herself lost to Arvind Kejriwal by a huge margin of 25,864 votes in the New Delhi constituency in a shocking defeat.

Dikshit,considered one of the most successful woman politician of her time,has the distinction of being the longest-serving woman Chief Minister in independent India.

A number of Congress heavy-weights including cabinet ministers lost in the election as AAP made a strong dent into Congress’ support base.

Harsh Vardhan congratulates Kejriwal

BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan thanked people of Delhi for giving the party the maximum number of seats.

“I am confident that we will be able to serve the people of Delhi,” he said,declining to take questions about the formation of next government as the party looked short of majority in the assembly.

Vardhan extended his wishes to Arvind Kejriwal of AAP and the outgoing Chief Minister.

“I will congratulate Kejriwal on the good show of his party against expectations. I will also offer my thanks to Dikshit for serving Delhi for 15 years,” he said.

Vardhan won from the Krishna Nagar constituency with a whopping margin of over 43,150 votes.

Vardhan had promised to cut power tariff by 30 per cent and slash vegetable prices within 30 days of coming to power.

The BJP has also promised to give 12 subsidised LPG cylinders in a year to each household instead of current nine besides ensuring full statehood. It has also promised to set up a dedicated Women Security Force to ensure safety of women.

Kejriwal attributes victory to people

Making a brief appearance before party volunteers at his Hunuman Road office for the first time after the result was declared,Kejriwal attributed his victory to the people of New Delhi Constituency.

“This is not my victory,it is a victory of people of New Delhi constituency and victory of democracy,” he said,after defeating Dikshit.

The volunteers,from 80-year-old Vijay Baba to six-year-old Ritul who had gathered outside his office,cheered and shouted slogans as soon as the announcement of his victory was made by AAP leader Kumar Vishwas.

Aam Aadmi Party has done virtually the impossible by turning the polls in the national capital into a triangular affair and relegating Congress to the third position.

A total of 810 candidates were in the fray in the Delhi polls held on December 4.

The highest-ever voter turnout of 65.86 per cent was recorded as Delhiites came out in large numbers to exercise their franchise.