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Delhi election: Indian PM Modi admits defeat | |
(34 minutes later) | |
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has admitted defeat in Delhi state elections after results showed anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal's party heading for a landslide win. | |
Mr Modi congratulated Mr Kejriwal and promised him complete support. | Mr Modi congratulated Mr Kejriwal and promised him complete support. |
Mr Kejriwal's anti-corruption Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is leading in 63 of the 70 seats, while Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party is ahead in only four seats. | |
The AAP is led by former tax inspector and activist Arvind Kejriwal. | The AAP is led by former tax inspector and activist Arvind Kejriwal. |
Correspondents say his win would mark a remarkable comeback for the campaigner. | Correspondents say his win would mark a remarkable comeback for the campaigner. |
Mr Kejriwal's party was routed by the BJP in May's general elections, months after the AAP made a spectacular debut in the 2013 Delhi elections. | Mr Kejriwal's party was routed by the BJP in May's general elections, months after the AAP made a spectacular debut in the 2013 Delhi elections. |
On the other hand, Mr Modi has enjoyed huge popularity since taking office last year, winning a string of local elections and wooing international investors and world leaders, and the BJP's defeat in Delhi is his first setback. | On the other hand, Mr Modi has enjoyed huge popularity since taking office last year, winning a string of local elections and wooing international investors and world leaders, and the BJP's defeat in Delhi is his first setback. |
The BJP's campaign was essentially anti-AAP and the party leaders often criticised Mr Kejriwal at their rallies and road shows. | The BJP's campaign was essentially anti-AAP and the party leaders often criticised Mr Kejriwal at their rallies and road shows. |
Mr Kerjiwal, meanwhile, conducted an energetic campaign which proved popular with working class and underprivileged voters who make up 60% of Delhi's population. | Mr Kerjiwal, meanwhile, conducted an energetic campaign which proved popular with working class and underprivileged voters who make up 60% of Delhi's population. |
Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded former policewoman Kiran Bedi as its candidate for chief minister. | Mr Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) fielded former policewoman Kiran Bedi as its candidate for chief minister. |
"We never expected that the results would be so depressing. We never expected that we would suffer such a setback. It is certainly not our day today," BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor told BBC Hindi. | "We never expected that the results would be so depressing. We never expected that we would suffer such a setback. It is certainly not our day today," BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor told BBC Hindi. |
The Congress party, which ran the Indian capital for 15 years until 2013, has suffered a complete rout and is not even leading in one seat. | The Congress party, which ran the Indian capital for 15 years until 2013, has suffered a complete rout and is not even leading in one seat. |
Delhi has been without a government since Mr Kejriwal resigned last February as chief minister, angered that his anti-corruption bill was blocked. | Delhi has been without a government since Mr Kejriwal resigned last February as chief minister, angered that his anti-corruption bill was blocked. |
Since then the state has been governed directly by the federal authorities. | Since then the state has been governed directly by the federal authorities. |
At the scene: Nitin Srivastava, BBC Hindi, Delhi | At the scene: Nitin Srivastava, BBC Hindi, Delhi |
The atmosphere around the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is electrifying. | The atmosphere around the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is electrifying. |
As results showed the anti-corruption party steaming ahead, supporters began discussing the formation of the new government. They say their victory "will be a reinforcement of the common man's choices over money power [of big political parties like BJP]". | As results showed the anti-corruption party steaming ahead, supporters began discussing the formation of the new government. They say their victory "will be a reinforcement of the common man's choices over money power [of big political parties like BJP]". |
"If people feel 2014 was the year of the Modi wave, this will be the year of an AAP sweep," Rajesh Kumar Arya, a supporter, said. | "If people feel 2014 was the year of the Modi wave, this will be the year of an AAP sweep," Rajesh Kumar Arya, a supporter, said. |
Even though the actual results are a few hours away, sweets have begun arriving in homes in the neighbourhood for the celebrations and AAP supporters are bursting crackers and singing songs. | Even though the actual results are a few hours away, sweets have begun arriving in homes in the neighbourhood for the celebrations and AAP supporters are bursting crackers and singing songs. |
The BJP supporters I spoke to said they felt dejected by a few crucial decisions the party took immediately before the polls, including the announcement of the "outsider" Kiran Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate. | The BJP supporters I spoke to said they felt dejected by a few crucial decisions the party took immediately before the polls, including the announcement of the "outsider" Kiran Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate. |
Ms Bedi and Mr Kejriwal worked together during the anti-corruption campaign led by social activist Anna Hazare, but the two have since developed an intense rivalry. | Ms Bedi and Mr Kejriwal worked together during the anti-corruption campaign led by social activist Anna Hazare, but the two have since developed an intense rivalry. |
During weeks of hectic campaigning in Delhi, both candidates promised to bring in good governance, end corruption and make Delhi safe for women. | During weeks of hectic campaigning in Delhi, both candidates promised to bring in good governance, end corruption and make Delhi safe for women. |
In the previous Delhi election held in December 2013, the BJP won the most seats but fell short of a majority, leaving the AAP - which came second - to form a coalition with the Congress party. | In the previous Delhi election held in December 2013, the BJP won the most seats but fell short of a majority, leaving the AAP - which came second - to form a coalition with the Congress party. |
But Mr Kejriwal resigned on 14 February, after 49 days in office, when opposition politicians blocked a bill that would have created an independent body with the power to investigate politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption. | But Mr Kejriwal resigned on 14 February, after 49 days in office, when opposition politicians blocked a bill that would have created an independent body with the power to investigate politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption. |