AAP winning back trust of people: Kejriwal; result of hard work: BJP

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is winning back the trust of Delhiites, party national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday following the declaration of results of bypolls to 12 wards of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Meanwhile, the BJP asserted that it continues to be the first choice of city residents, pointing to its vote share of over 45%.

Out of the 12 wards, the BJP won seven, AAP secured three, while the Congress and the All India Forward Bloc won one each.

In a post on X, Mr. Kejriwal said AAP fielded dedicated workers and that public support for the party was “continuously strengthening”. “In 10 months, public’s trust is once again rapidly returning… Delhi is very soon returning towards positive politics and good works,” he said.

AAP Delhi chief Saurabh Bharadwaj claimed that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta “failed her first test after nine months in power”. 

He accused the BJP of “manipulating” the final vote count in Ashok Vihar, pointing out that the AAP candidate, who was leading until the ninth round, finally lost by 405 votes.

The BJP, however, rejected the charge, calling it “baseless”. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the party fought the bypolls “with full seriousness” and that voters appreciated the decision to field eight women candidates, six of whom won. He said AAP’s allegations reflected “frustration” after its “severe defeat”.

Ms. Gupta congratulated BJP workers, terming the win a testament to the “hard work, dedication, and collective strength of our organisation”.

‘Credible alternative’

Terming the party’s win the “beginning of a political comeback”, Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav said the people were again “looking to the Congress as a credible alternative”.