Modi wave helped the BJP garner more votes: Experts

BJP's victory in MCD polls has marked its return to the national capital. For AAP, more seats in MCD would have ensured its political survival.

New Delhi, April 26: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday registered a thumping victory in the MCD elections by winning over 160 seats, crossing its existing strength of 138 as it decimated the AAP and the Congress.

After poll trends indicated BJP's triumph, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the people of Delhi for reposing faith in the BJP and ensuring its resounding victory in MCD polls.

"Grateful to the people of Delhi for the faith in BJP. I laud the hardwork of team @BJP4Delhi which made the resounding MCD win possible," he tweeted.

BJP's victory credit goes to "Modi wave"?

Modi's popularity has once again rolled the BJP into the national capital and crushed the ruling AAP and relegated the Congress to the margins.

With move like demonetisation, Modi not only won the number of seats but also won the hearts of people.

The BJP's grand entry in local politics comes two years after it suffered a shock defeat in the assembly polls.

Today's victory is a major relief for the BJP as assembly elections are scheduled to take place in Gujarat later this year. Gujarat is a stronghold of PM Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah and BJP is in power in the state from last 20 years.

Grateful to the people of Delhi for the faith in BJP. I laud the hardwork of team @BJP4Delhi which made the resounding MCD win possible.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) 26 April 2017

Meanwhile, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari dedicated its impending win to the slain CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district and decided to refrain from any celebrations. For the BJP, a victory would mark its return to the national capital.

Kejriwal who called BJP "dengue party", now congratulates it!

The AAP rout in Delhi comes after successive jolts in Punjab, Goa and the Rajouri Garden Assembly bypoll. More seats in MCD would have ensured its political survival.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who took a jibe on the BJP and called it "dengue and chikungunya party" on Wednesday congratulated it for its victory in the civic polls and assured his party's support for Delhi's betterment.

"I congratulate (the) BJP on their victory in all three MCDs. My government looks forward to working with the MCDs for the betterment of Delhi," Kejriwal tweeted.

I congratulate BJP on their victory in all 3 MCDs. My govt looks forward to working wid MCDs for the betterment of Delhi

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) 26 April 2017

The AAP's humiliating defeat plunged the party into a crisis even as its top leadership put up a brave front suggesting it was all expected due to tampering with EVMs.

Aam Aadmi Party's debacle signals the bursting of a political bubble. AAP's grip will considerably weaken, in terms of perception if not numbers and it is a worrisome sign for its fate in next assembly elections in Delhi.

For Congress, it's high time for introspection

DPCC chief Ajay Maken resigned from his post, accepting moral responsibility for the Congress' dismal performance in the civic polls.

The Congress, that was hoping to bounce back by putting up a creditable show, is staring at political oblivion. Winning more seats in today's results would have meant a revival.

Congratulations to @BJP4India on MCD win, & congrats also to @INCIndia for vast improvement from 9.6% in 2015. Revival has begun @ajaymaken

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) 26 April 2017

A day before MCD elections, on April 22, Maken had said that the party will win 208 of 272 seats in the municipal elections.

What experts have to say?

The director of the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Sanjay Kumar, believed that AAP's defeat would 'reduce its chances of survival' as a political party.

"If you see AAP's report card in terms of state governance, the score isn't really bad. But the Modi wave helped the BJP garner more votes and register a historic win," he told a news agency.

"Parties contest elections all the time; they win and they lose as well, it should not be too worrisome for them. But AAP's case is different," he said, referring to the fact that the party was formed barely four years ago on the strength of popular support.

Kumar also said that since the polls results could not be seen as a "referendum of AAP's work in governance at the state level", the party needed to look into the reasons for defeat instead of blaming electronic voting machines for it.

"AAP must accept its defeat and go to the people to understand the reasons," he said. Kumar said the Delhi MCD elections were important for the three main political parties in the fray for different reasons.

Kumar Rajesh, Fellow at Delhi University's Developing Countries Research Centre, described AAP's slide as "steep" but predictable.

"While they entered Delhi's political scene with a bang, the slide for AAP has been steep," he said.

He added that the DCRC had conducted a survey in all the 272 wards of the MCD, interviewing nearly 40,000 people for their views.

"The burst of the political bubble was predictable," he said while adding "We can't deny that the BJP somehow managed to convince the voters that the party had been working for them."

OneIndia News

(With PTI inputs)