NEW DELHI: Top AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, both CM and deputy CM for the majority of the last two terms, are headed for losses from their seats in the Delhi Assembly polls but three ministers of the AAP government were the saving grace for the party.
Gopal Rai, Mukesh Ahlawat and Imran Hussain, who were ministers in the Delhi government, secured victories from Babarpur, Sultanpur Majra, and Ballimaran, respectively, amid what is likely to be a string of losses for senior leaders of the party.
Hussain won with a margin of 29,823 votes, Rai with 18,994 votes and Ahlawat with a margin of 17,126 votes.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP leader Atishi, meanwhile, was also headed for a victory from her seat in Kalkaji.
Saurabh Bharadwaj, another prominent leader and a minister, lost to BJP’s Shikha Roy by a margin of 3,188 votes in Greater Kailash.
Kejriwal has conceded his party’s defeat in the Delhi polls. His rival from the BJP in the high-profile New Delhi seat, Parvesh Verma has already claimed victory. Former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia has also conceded defeat to BJP’s Tarvinder Singh Marwah in Jangpura.
Kejriwal congratulates BJP for its victory, accepts people’s mandate
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal conceded the defeat in the Delhi Assembly election, saying that the party will function as a constructive opposition and will continue to serve the people.
“We have done lot of work in education, water, electricity, infrastructure to provide relief to Delhiites”, the AAP leader added. He also thanked AAP workers for their hardwork during elections.
After AAP’s defeat, the party chief also mentioned that they are not in politics for power, instead they consider it as medium to serve people.
Setback for AAP, accept people’s mandate: Atishi
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi retained the Kalkaji seat, defeating BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Congress’ Alka Lamba in the Assembly elections. She said, “Setback for AAP but we accept people’s mandate; will continue our fight against BJP’s dictatorship, hooliganism”.
The AAP leader also thanked the people of Kalkaji and party workers.
Agencies