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Roundup: India's anti-graft party decimates ruling BJP in Delhi assembly polls in major setback for Modi

Xinhua, February 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

India's anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Tuesday scripted a landslide victory, decimating the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly polls in the national capital, in a major setback for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The AAP, led by 46-year-old former civil servant-turned- politician Arvind Kejriwal, got 67 seats in the 70-member assembly while the BJP managed to bag just three seats -- down from 32 in the polls held in December 2013 -- and the main opposition Congress party failed to get even a single seat.

Kejriwal will take oath as Delhi's Chief Minister at the Ramlila grounds on Feb.14, the same day when he had last year resigned as the Chief Minister, following 49 days in office after leading a minority government with outside support from the Congress party.

"We will always walk the path of truth. It is very scary, the kind of support the people of Delhi have given us. My top priority will be to end bribery. I will be people's Chief Minister. With the help of people, we will make Delhi a city which both poor and rich will feel proud of," he said, addressing his supporters.

Earlier in the morning, as trends indicated a clear win for the AAP, Modi was quick to concede defeat and called up the anti-graft party chief, congratulating him and also assuring him complete support of the central government.

"Spoke to @ArvindKejriwal & congratulated him on the win. Assured him Center's complete support in the development of Delhi, " the Prime Minister tweeted.

While the AAP's victory heralds a remarkable comeback for Kejriwal after his party was routed in last year's general elections by the BJP, the party's win in Delhi assembly polls is the first major setback for Modi who has enjoyed huge popularity since taking office, winning elections after elections in states.

However, the BJP claimed that the results of Delhi assembly polls could not be termed as a referendum on Modi, with his chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi, a former top cop who lost her own seat, saying the saffron outfit's rout in the elections was a collective failure.

Interestingly both Kejriwal and Bedi came to limelight during the anti-corruption campaign led by veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare, but the two have since developed an intense rivalry.

During weeks of hectic campaigning, the BJP focused on attacking the AAP while the anti-graft party conducted an energetic poll campaign, focusing on ending corruption and women's safety, which proved popular with working class and lower underprivileged voters who comprise 60 per cent of voters.

Delhi, which went to polls on Feb. 7, has been without a government since Kejriwal resigned in February last year, blaming opposition politicians for blocking a bill to create an ombudsman with the power to probe corrupt politicians and government officials. Endi