MCD Election Results 2017: AAP which loses Delhi election, says 'this is not Modi Wave, this is EVM Wave'
Highlights
- As BJP wins by huge lead, AAP says it is because of 'EVM-lehar'
- AAP to launch national campaign against what it alleges are faulty EVMs
- AAP distant second in Delhi civic polls
After losing the Delhi election, Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said today that the
results indicate an "EVM wave, not Modi wave". The party has decided to launch a national campaign against what it alleges are faulty EVMs or Electronic Voting Machines.
"This chamatkari (magical) victory of the BJP - this is only EVM lehar (wave) not Modi lehar,"said Gopal Rai, adding, "The entire country has to think how to be free of this EVM-wave."
Mr Kejriwal met with his top lieutenants including deputy Manish Sisodia and Gopal Rai as it became clear in early counting that AAP was losing in Delhi just two years after it came to power with a spectacular mandate in state polls. The leaders together watched the results on TV of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi or
MCD elections held on Sunday.
As exit polls had predicted, the BJP raced to a massive victory while AAP was fighting the Congress for the number 2 spot.
Sources say the party was not expecting a victory after its workers' feedback from the ground a day after voting. Around 155 AAP members who were at polling stations reported to Mr Kejriwal on Monday.
"Faulty EVMs" has been AAP's go-to theme after recent poll setbacks. The party has ascribed a leading role to EVMs in its recent defeats, including in Punjab and Goa.
The Chief Minister's adviser Nagendra Sharma tweeted:BJP leaders said Mr Kejriwal and AAP should quit the Delhi government and go for fresh elections, taking the MCD results as an indicator of the public disapproval.
Former AAP leader Yogendra Yadav was scathing in his critique of the party that expelled him in 2015, months after winning the Delhi state election.
"What has changed between 2015 and 2017? The only thing is the AAP government's performance. People are angry with the Chief Minister and are electing the PM (Prime Minister Narendra Modi)," Mr Yadav said.
"I think if AAP loses, it should go for a referendum in Delhi and ask people if they still have their mandate."