The Modi wave was an obvious factor behind the BJP’s stupendous victory in the MCD polls. Equally important was the party’s bold decision to deny tickets to all of its 138 councillors and also not to field any of the candidates who lost in 2012. This masterstroke by BJP president Amit Shah was the game changer.
New State BJP chief Manoj Tiwari’s ability to reach out to “purvanchali” voters too paid dividends. Tiwari addressed over 260 rallies and did not leave any locality untouched during his relentless campaign.
BJP’s resounding victory demolished the formidable push by the ruling AAP and also dealt a blow to the Congress’ hope for a revival. The party managed to retain its vote share whereas the Congress managed to gain a sizeable percentage of vote share it had lost to the AAP in 2015 Assembly elections.
The BJP cornered 36 per cent of the votes polled, the AAP 26 per cent, and the Congress 21 per cent. While the BJP vote share remained almost the same as in 2012 (36.74 per cent), the Congress slid by almost nine per cent from 30.54 per cent in 2012. The Bahujan Samaj Party won three seats — one in NMC and two in EDMC. The Samajwadi Party and the Indian National lok Dal managed one seat each in SDMC. Six Independents registered victory in the civic polls.
Party leaders were unanimous in acknowledging that the charisma of Prime Minister Modi helped the saffron party retain the control of the three corporations. Also, by fielding new candidates, the BJP successfully deflected the anti- incumbency factor.
If voters chose to ignore a lot of controversy surrounding the performance of the BJP in the national Capital, it was due to the charisma of the Prime Minister in whose name the party ran its campaign
The AAP’s defeat was described as the bursting of a political bubble. Kumar, Director of the Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS), said the AAP’s defeat will “reduce its chances of survival”.
“The way the AAP has been routed, its chances of survival have been reduced. Parties contest elections all the time, they win and they lose as well, it should not be too worrisome for them. But, the AAP’s case is different,” he said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal refrained from commenting on faulty EVMs and promised all cooperation to the civic bodies. The AAP has been very critical of the alleged “manipulation” of EVMs as the reason behind AAP’s string of poll upsets.
“I congratulate BJP on their victory in all 3 MCDs. My Govt looks forward to working wid MCDs for the betterment of Delhi (sic),” Kejriwal, who went into a huddle with top leaders of the AAP as the results trickled in early in the day, tweeted.
Ajay Maken-led Congress that was hoping to obliterate its dismal performance in the 2015 Assembly elections when the grand old party had failed to win even a single seat, received a severe drubbing. The party has been resigned to political wilderness. Stunned by the below par performance of Congress, Maken tendered his resignation after his party managed to win just 31 seats.