Delhi CM News Highlights: BJP returns to power in Delhi after 27 years, sweeps away AAP; Historic, says PM Modi

Delhi CM News Highlights: The BJP on Saturday (February 8) returned to power in Delhi after more than 27 years to sweep away the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party with a two-thirds majority on the back of a hyper-localised campaign and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘AAP-da'(disaster) blitzkrieg.

Adding to the ignominy of the AAP which was battling 10 years of anti-incumbency was the shocking defeat of former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal himself and other top leaders including his close aide and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti and Saurabh Bhardwaj. Chief Minister Atishi, an academic and unlikely politician, weathered the storm to retain Kalkaji’s seat.

The BJP won 48 of the 70 seats at stake and the AAP was way behind with 22, according to the Election Commission website. The elections were largely seen as a bipolar contest between the AAP, which made a determined bid for a fourth term, and the BJP. While the AAP had 62 members in the outgoing house, the saffron party had just eight legislators.