delhi elections results today

India's AAP scores key election wins over Modi's party in Delhi 


Feb. 11 (UPI) -- India's anti-establishment Aam Aadmi Party scored major victories Tuesday in elections in the territory of Delhi, tightening its grip after weeks of protests over an unpopular citizenship law that critics say discriminates against Muslim refugees. In 60 decided races, the AAP has won 54 seats compared to six for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is led by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Of the 10 remaining seats, the AAP leads in eight. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal comfortably won his local race. He has been withering in his criticism of the BJP, which has backed the citizenship law that fast tracks citizenship for immigrants of three neighboring countries, as long as they're not Muslim. "It is a victory of people of Delhi who considered me their son," Kejriwal said. Sanjay Singh, a senior Parliament member representing the AAP, called the Delhi elections a "historic mandate" for his party in an effort to one day challenge the BJP nationally. "It took [the BJP] the whole cabinet, 300 [lawmakers], five chief ministers, many ex-chief ministers, their whole power but still they failed to defeat Kejriwal," Singh said. J.P. Nadda, the BJP's national president, acknowledged the lopsided defeat and promised a "constructive opposition" to the AAP in Delhi. "The BJP respects the mandate given by the people of Delhi," Nadda said. "The BJP will play the role of a constructive opposition and will prominently raise every issue related to the development of the state." Modi and the BJP handily won national elections last May, but Delhi is the sixth territory where the party has lost power over the last 13 months.
Modi's Hindu nationalist party defeated in New Delhi elections 

New Delhi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party was given a stunning defeat by a regional party Tuesday in elections in the national capital that were seen as a referendum on his policies, including a new national citizenship law that excludes Muslims. Saturday's New Delhi legislative elections pit Mr. Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party against the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party, or "common man's" party, whose pro-poor policies focused on fixing state-run schools and providing cheap electricity, free health care, and bus transport for women during its five years in power. Mr. Modi and Home minister Amit Shah appealed to majority Hindus by focusing on national issues such as the citizenship law, which triggered widespread protests, at the expense of problems facing the capital's millions of residents. At least 23 people were killed in clashes between police and protesters in December. With counting of votes almost complete, the Aam Aadmi Party, or AAP, had won 52 seats and was leading in another 10 of the 70 constituencies, while the BJP had won six seats and was leading in another two, the Election Commission said. The Congress party, led by Sonia Gandhi, was unlikely to win any seats. Full results were expected later Tuesday. The defeat was a setback to Mr. Modi's prestige, coming less than eight months after he led the BJP to a resounding victory in national elections. The party won all seven of the capital's parliamentary seats in those polls. The victory was a major boost for AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, the incumbent New Delhi chief minister and anti-corruption crusader. Mr. Kejriwal joined hundreds of his supporters in celebrating the party's performance. In a brief speech, he said the election "has given birth to a new brand of politics – politics of development'' meeting people's basic needs. Mr. Modi in a tweet congratulated Mr. Kejriwal for his party's victory. “Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi,” he said. Local BJP leader Manoj Tewari denied the AAP charge that his party had tried to create a Hindu-Muslim divide during the elections. Hindus comprise more than 80% of India's 1.3 billion people and Muslims about 14%. Mr. Kejriwal launched his party in 2012 and campaigned to rid the Indian political system and government of corruption and inefficiency. The party's symbol – a broom – and its promise to sweep the administration of graft struck a chord with New Delhi's nearly 20 million people. In the 2015 elections, Mr. Kejriwal's party won 67 seats and the BJP three. Mr. Modi and Home Minister Shah campaigned vigorously in an attempt to unseat the AAP and capture power in New Delhi. The BJP last ruled New Delhi in the 1990s. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. The new citizenship law fast-tracks naturalization for non-Muslim migrants from neighboring Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who are living in the country illegally. The BJP also hoped to garner Hindu votes for ending the semi-autonomy of Muslim-majority Kashmir last summer and turning the disputed region into two federally governed territories. This story was reported by The Associated Press. 


Modi's party losing badly in New Delhi legislative elections 

Ashok Sharma, Associated Press Updated 7:23 am PST, Tuesday, February 11, 2020 Incumbent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, center, waves at Aam Aadmi Party, or "common man's" party headquarters as they celebrate the party's victory in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party was facing a stunning defeat by a regional party Tuesday in elections in the national capital that were seen as a referendum on Modi's policies such as a new national citizenship law that excludes Muslims. less Incumbent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, center, waves at Aam Aadmi Party, or "common man's" party headquarters as they celebrate the party's victory in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Indian ... more Photo: Manish Swarup, AP Incumbent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, center, waves at Aam Aadmi Party, or "common man's" party headquarters as they celebrate the party's victory in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party was facing a stunning defeat by a regional party Tuesday in elections in the national capital that were seen as a referendum on Modi's policies such as a new national citizenship law that excludes Muslims. less Incumbent Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, center, waves at Aam Aadmi Party, or "common man's" party headquarters as they celebrate the party's victory in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2020. Indian ... more Photo: Manish Swarup, AP Stunning defeat for Modi's party in New Delhi elections NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist party was given a stunning defeat by a regional party Tuesday in elections in the national capital that were seen as a referendum on his policies, including a new national citizenship law that excludes Muslims. Saturday's New Delhi legislative elections pit Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party against the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party, or “common man's” party, whose pro-poor policies focused on fixing state-run schools and providing cheap electricity, free health care and bus transport for women during its five years in power. Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah appealed to majority Hindus by focusing on national issues such as the citizenship law, which triggered widespread protests, at the expense of problems facing the capital's millions of residents. At least 23 people were killed in clashes between police and protesters against the law in December. With counting of votes almost complete, the Aam Aadmi Party, or AAP, had won 52 seats and was leading in another 10 of the 70 constituencies, while the BJP had won six seats and was leading in another two, the Election Commission said. The Congress party, led by Sonia Gandhi, was unlikely to win any seats. Full results were expected later Tuesday. The defeat was a setback to Modi’s prestige, coming less than eight months after he led the BJP to a resounding victory in national elections. The party won all seven of the capital's parliamentary seats in those polls. The victory was a major boost for AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, the 51-year-old incumbent New Delhi chief minister and anti-corruption crusader. Kejriwal joined hundreds of his supporters in celebrating the party's performance. In a brief speech. he said the election "has given birth to a new brand of politics — politics of development'' to meet people's basic needs. Modi in a tweet congratulated Kejriwal for his party's victory. “Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delh,” he saidi. Local BJP leader Manoj Tewari denied the AAP accusation that his party had tried to create a Hindu-Muslim divide during the elections. Hindus comprise more than 80% of India's 1.3 billion people and Muslims about 14%. Kejriwal launched his party in 2012 and campaigned to rid the political system and government of corruption and inefficiency. The party’s symbol — a broom— and its promise to sweep the administration of graft struck a chord with New Delhi nearly 20 million people. In the 2015 elections, Kejriwal's party won 67 seats and the BJP three. Modi and Home Minister Shah campaigned vigorously in an attempt to unseat the AAP and capture power in New Delhi. The BJP last ruled New Delhi in the 1990s. The new citizenship law fast-tracks naturalization for non-Muslim migrants from neighboring Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who are living in the country illegally. The BJP also hoped to garner Hindu votes for ending the semi-autonomy of Muslim-majority Kashmir last summer and turning the disputed region into two federally governed territories.