The Shiv Sena on Wednesday, 12 February, said that Aam Aadmi Party's campaign designed around the works done by it won it a landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly polls while the BJP's "polarisation attempt" failed to click with voters of the National Capital.
The Shiv Sena praised Delhi Chief Minister and AAP president Arvind Kejriwal, saying he single-handedly took on the "army of BJP leaders", including chief ministers and central leaders, and successfully showcased the works done by his government in fields like education and health.
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The Uddhav Thackeray-led party took a dig at former ally BJP, saying the Aam Aadmi Party’s win indicated the defeat of arrogance and the attitude of “what we say is rule”.
BJP Dealt a Body Blow in Delhi Polls: Shiv Sena
Losing the Delhi Assembly polls and a Shiv Sena chief minister in the country's financial capital Mumbai would be "deeply hurting" for Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who wanted to secure at least one victory for the BJP after stepping down as its national president, it said.
On Tuesday, 11 February, Kejriwal led the Aam Aadmi Party to a stupendous victory yet again in the Delhi Assembly polls, dealing a body blow to the main rival BJP and completely decimating the Congress in a keenly-watched battle in the midst of anti-CAA protests.
The BJP tried to build its poll narrative around issues like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), "Hindu- Muslim" and labelling the Shaheen Bagh protest as agitation of Muslims alone, but the electorate did not fall for such "polarisation" and voted in favour of Kejriwal, it said.
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"Kejriwal succeeded in blaming Modi-Shah for the poor law and order situation in Delhi. At the same time, he took credit for his efforts in the betterment of education, health and transportation services in Delhi," the Sena said.
Thus, AAP's "broom" (its poll symbol) swept the Delhi elections completely, it added.
After stepping down from the post of BJP president, Shah wanted to secure at least one win for his party which has been losing elections in state Assemblies after its huge victory in the Lok Sabha polls, the Marathi daily said.
"All the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi were won by the BJP last year, but in the Assembly polls there it faced a strong local alternative in the form of Arvind Kejriwal, who sought votes on the basis of works he did," the Sena said.
It said the BJP was "confused" how to counter Kejriwal, but the AAP leader designed his entire campaign around the works done by his government in Delhi.
"This is rare as elections in India are generally contested on sentimental issues," the Sena said.
