New Delhi: A couplet, some introspection and many good wishes. Led by PM Narendra Modi, several BJP leaders sought to congratulate the AAP as it sealed a second successive win in national capital Delhi Tuesday.
Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter, wishing Chief Minister-elect Arvind Kejriwal the very best in “fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi”.
Congratulations to AAP and Shri @ArvindKejriwal Ji for the victory in the Delhi Assembly Elections. Wishing them the very best in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of Delhi.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 11, 2020
Kejriwal tweeted back, thanking PM Modi for his wishes.
Thank u so much sir. I look forward to working closely wid Centre to make our capital city into a truly world class city. https://t.co/IACEVA091c
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 11, 2020
BJP national president J.P. Nadda said he “respected” people’s decision.
भाजपा दिल्ली की जनता द्वारा दिये गये जनादेश का सम्मान करती है। सभी कार्यकर्ताओं ने इस चुनाव में अथक परिश्रम किया और दिन रात चुनाव में लगे रहे है। सभी कार्यकर्ताओं का ह्रदय से अभिनंदन और साधुवाद।
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) February 11, 2020
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, who was convinced until Tuesday morning that the party could win 55 of the capital’s 70 assembly seats, said he accepted the public verdict with good wishes for Kejriwal.
दिल्ली के सभी मतदाताओं का धन्यवाद ।
सभी कार्यकर्ताओ को उनके कठिन परिश्रम के लिए साधुवाद…दिल्ली की जनता का जनादेश सिर माथे पे.. @ArvindKejriwal जी को बहुत बहुत बधाई ..— Manoj Tiwari (@ManojTiwariMP) February 11, 2020
BJP candidate and AAP turncoat Kapil Mishra congratulated the winning party and said the “struggle will continue”, also claiming in an interview with news agency ANI that the BJP had probably failed to strike a connect with Delhi’s voters.
केजरीवाल और AAP को शानदार जीत की बधाई
भाजपा के सभी कार्यकर्ताओं का आभार हम सबने पूरी मेहनत से चुनाव लड़ा
दिल्ली की जनता का धन्यवाद
संघर्ष जारी रहेगा
— Kapil Mishra (@KapilMishra_IND) February 11, 2020
Kapil Mishra, BJP candidate from Model Town constituency: I congratulate Aam Aadmi Party and Arvind Kejriwal for the excellent victory. BJP has lost the fifth state election in a row. It means we have somewhere failed to connect with the people of Delhi. #DelhiElectionResults pic.twitter.com/ptnA9S7Z2I
— ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2020
Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga, BJP spokesperson and candidate from Hari Nagar, was poetic about his defeat in what was his first election ever. The couplet he posted roughly translated thus — victory and defeat are just lessons learnt on one’s journey.
क्या हार में क्या जीत में,किंचित नहीं भयभीत मैं ।
संघर्ष पथ पर जो भी मिला, यह भी सही वह भी सही।
हरि नगर विधानसभा के सभी मतदाताओं का और सभी कार्यकर्ता मित्रों का हार्दिक धन्यवाद ।— Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga (@TajinderBagga) February 11, 2020
Former cricketer Gautam Gambhir, a BJP MP representing East Delhi, assured Kejriwal of shared commitment towards the capital’s development.
Congratulations to @ArvindKejriwal on returning as the Chief Minister of Delhi and all the winning MLAs. I want to assure him that development of Delhi and welfare of citizens will be the top priority for everyone!
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 11, 2020
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar also wrote that he “respected” the mandate.
दिल्ली की जनता ने विधानसभा चुनाव में अपना निर्णय लिया है हम उस निर्णय का सम्मान करते है और @ArvindKejriwal जी व उनकी पार्टी को शुभकामनाएं देते है। @BJP4India एक रचनात्मक विपक्ष के रूप में जनता की समस्याओं को आवाज़ देती रहेंगी और अपना काम करती रहेगी। pic.twitter.com/AvK1l2Vdlf
— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) February 11, 2020
Union Home Minister and the BJP’s master poll strategist Amit Shah, who led an aggressive campaign for Delhi, was yet to offer a reaction by the time of publishing this report.
Also Read: 5 reasons why Modi-Shah’s BJP lost to Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP in Delhi election
Tweet & defeat
In the face of defeat, Modi and Shah generally respond with a reiteration of their “respect for the people’s mandate” and gratitude for party workers.
When Jharkhand assembly election results were declared last December, PM Modi praised BJP karyakartas (party workers) for the work they put in.
I thank the people of Jharkhand for having given @BJP4India the opportunity to serve the state for many years. I also applaud the hardworking Party Karyakartas for their efforts.
We will continue serving the state and raising people-centric issues in the times to come.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 23, 2019
Tweeting a few minutes earlier, Shah said the BJP “respected” the mandate given by the people of Jharkhand.
हम झारखंड की जनता द्वारा दिये गये जनादेश का सम्मान करते हैं।
भाजपा को 5 वर्षों तक प्रदेश की सेवा करने का जो मौका दिया था उसके लिए हम जनता का हृदय से आभार व्यक्त करते हैं। भाजपा निरंतर प्रदेश के विकास के लिए कटिबद्ध रहेगी।
सभी कार्यकर्ताओं का उनके अथक परिश्रम के लिए अभिनंदन।
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) December 23, 2019
When results for the 2018 assembly elections for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh were announced in December of that year, Modi chose to “accept the people’s mandate with humility”. He also thanked his party workers for their support.
We accept the people’s mandate with humility.
I thank the people of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan for giving us the opportunity to serve these states. The BJP Governments in these states worked tirelessly for the welfare of the people.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2018
The family of BJP Karyakartas worked day and night for the state elections. I salute them for their hardwork.
Victory and defeat are an integral part of life.
Today’s results will further our resolve to serve people and work even harder for the development of India.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2018
Shah chose to be silent on the verdict in these states too, instead congratulating K. Chandrashekar Rao on his victory in the Telangana assembly election that was held at the same time.
Also Read: Why Delhi voters chose Arvind Kejriwal for CM and Narendra Modi for PM