Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that “development has triumphed,” as his BJP appeared set to reclaim control of Delhi in the local elections.
“Development has won, good governance has won,” Modi said while counting was still underway. It was confirmed that the former chief minister of Delhi, a key opposition leader, had lost his seat.
BJP surge as Kejriwal faces defeat
Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), lost his seat to Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to the election results. His party also faced expected broader losses. AAP has governed Delhi, a city of more than 30 million, for most of the last decade.
“We accept the outcome and congratulate the BJP,” Kejriwal said in a video statement.
The BJP has controlled the national government but has not held the local legislature in Delhi since 1998. Winning the capital would hold both symbolic and strategic value.
“We will work hard to improve Delhi’s development and the lives of its residents,” Modi said on social media.
Supporters celebrated outside the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, waving flags and holding up posters of Modi as the election results were counted.
BJP’s strong position going forward
The counting continues, with the BJP ahead of AAP. The BJP has secured just over a third of the declared seats, but the election commission reported that the party leads in more than two-thirds of the 70-seat assembly.
“Our victory shows the public’s trust in Prime Minister Modi’s vision for progress,” said Amit Shah, BJP’s interior minister.
“The Delhi mandate shows that people will not be misled by false promises,” he added.
Kejriwal, once an anti-corruption leader, spent several months in prison last year. He faced accusations that his party accepted bribes for liquor licences, along with other party officials. Kejriwal denied the charges, calling them a political witch hunt by Modi’s government.
Pollution crisis overshadowed by election campaigns
During the election campaign, little attention was given to New Delhi’s severe air pollution. The city regularly faces hazardous levels of smog for months.
New Delhi often ranks as the most polluted capital in the world, with smog levels reaching up to 60 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit.
Despite years of government action, the problem remains largely unaddressed, causing thousands of premature deaths annually, especially among children and the elderly.
