THE HEADLINES
- Aam Aadmi Party sweeps Delhi polls; Wins 67 seats in 70-Member Assembly; Decimates BJP and Congress in elections; AAP gets 54.3 per cent popular votes cast compared to 32 per cent of BJP.
- Aam Aadmi legislative party elects Arvind Kejriwal as its leader; Kejriwal to be sworn in as Chief Minister on 14th.
- BJP Chief Ministerial Candidate Kiran Bedi loses election in Krishna Nagar Constituency; Says assembly poll outcome is a defeat of the party not her.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various political parties congratulate Arvind Kejriwal on his spectacular victory.
- All legislatures supporting the candidature of Nitish Kumar as Chief Minister of Bihar to parade before President tomorrow.
- India registers 153 run victory over Afghanistan in the World Cup warm up match.
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The Aam Aadmi Party, AAP today created history in the Delhi Assembly elections by staging a hurricane win, bagging almost 95 percent of the total seats in the 70-member House. The party has won an unprecedented 67 seats. The BJP which has been almost decimated, could register victory in only three constituencies, while Congress is completely swept out.
Mr. Arvind Kejriwal who led the AAP to a sensational victory, won the prestigious New Delhi seat, beating BJP's Nupur Sharma with a huge margin of about 32,000 votes while Congress leader Kiran Walia was pushed to the third spot.
BJP's Chief Ministerial face, Kiran Bedi lost to S.K. Bagga of AAP in the party's traditional stronghold Krishna Nagar constituency, by a margin of about 2,300 votes.
Congress stalwart Ajay Maken who led party's election campaign was pushed to third spot with AAP Candidate Som Dutt winning the Sadar Bazar seat. Dutt defeated BJP's Praveen Jain with a margin of over 33,000 votes. Taking responsibility of the party's defeat, Ajay Maken resigned from AICC General Secretary post.
BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi was defeated by Rajesh Rishi of AAP by a margin of over 25,500 votes.
Almost all the veterans of the BJP and Congress had to bite the dust.
A report from our Correspondent:
As the trend of the election results started pouring in favour of Aam Aadmi Party, its workers and volunteers got enthused with joy for a landslide victory in Delhi. Their wait for a grand victory soon came to close when the party secured a historic win in the 70-Member Assembly. The BJP which was confident of forming the government suffered a severe setback. It was a first major blow for BJP after Lok Sabha elections. The grand old party Congress failed to open its accounts and its many candidates lost their deposits. The AAP workers in their party offices were seen jubilant while there was a subdued look in the BJP and Congress offices. The election results are significant as a defeat for BJP may bolster the opposition and also give a major boost to Aam Aadmi Party for its expansion in other states. With Sant Bhadur, this is Anupam Mishra, AIR News, Delhi.
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An upswing of 24.8 per cent votes in AAP's fortune over the last elections, culminated in an overwhelming 95 per cent seat share for the party in Delhi Assembly. Of the total votes cast, a whooping 54.3 per cent of vote share came into AAP's kitty. On the contrary, the vote percentage of Bhartiya Janata Party fell by almost one per cent. It secured 32.2 per cent of votes in comparison to the 33.1 per cent which the party had managed during the last Assembly Elections. Congress fared the worst bagging merely 9.7 per cent of votes as against 24.6 per cent during the last polls.
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While no AAP candidate lost deposit in the Delhi Assembly election, 63 of the 70 Congress candidates forfeited their deposits. They include senior Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Kiran Walia, Haroon Yousuf and Yoganand Shastri. President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter and Congress candidate Sharmistha Mukherjee also lost her deposit from Greater Kailash.
Three BJP candidates also forfeited their deposits.
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AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal today met Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung and conveyed that he has been elected as the Leader of the Delhi Aam Aadmi Party Legislature Party. The Lieutenant Governor will now send his report in this regard to President Pranab Mukherjee. PTI quoting AAP leader Ashuthosh said that Mr. Kejriwal will take oath as Delhi Chief Minister on Saturday at Ram Lila Maidan.
Earllier, after the poll results, Mr. Kejariwal thanked Delhi voters for their massive support.
मैं यह भी निवेदन करना चाहूंगा सभी कार्यकर्ताओं से, सभी हमारे एमएलए से, ज़रासा भी अंहकार मत करना। आज जो कांग्रेस का हाल हुआ, आज जो बीजेपी का हालहुआ वो उनके अंहकार की वजह से हुआ तो यही सबक जनता हमको भी पांच साल केबाद दिखाएगी। हाथ जोड़के सब लोगों की सेवा करनी है। दिल्ली के लोगों की सेवाकरनी है। मैं अकेला कुछ नहीं कर सकता। मैं बहुत छोटा आदमी हूं।
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BJP leader Kiran Bedi today said that Delhi assembly poll outcome is not her defeat but the defeat of the party. Talking to reporters, Ms Bedi said, she gave her best in the elections and BJP is a national party and it should introspect on why it has lost.
Earlier, Ms Bedi had said, if the party wins, it will be a collective victory, if it loses, she will take full responsibility.
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BJP's Delhi Unit President Satish Upadhyay today admitted that the party failed to understand the mood of the people of Delhi. Congratulating Arvind Kejriwal for his party's landslide victory, he said the BJP will continue to serve the people as it did in the past.
Voters of Delhi have given a mandate to Aam Aadmi Party and we express our gratitude to the people of Delhi and BJP respects this mandate. We want to say that somewhere we have definitely made mistake in understanding the mood and belief of people and the collective responsibility of this defeat will be taken up by the BJP leadership.
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Messages have been pouring in for the Aam Aadmi Party, AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal on its historic win in the Delhi assembly polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal on his party's win in Delhi Assembly elections. In a tweet, Mr. Modi said that he spoke to Mr.Kejriwal and assured him of the Centre's support in the development of Delhi. Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray said, the result amounted to defeat for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, Mr. Thackeray termed the AAP victory in Delhi as a tsunami. Taking a swipe at the BJP, Mr. Thackeray said, the tsunami is mightier than the Modi wave. Mr. Thackeray said, the Delhi outcome was not merely a reversal of the Lok Sabha verdict in the capital but went much beyond.
The Nationalist Congress Party too congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party. Maharashtra NCP Chief spokesperson Nawab Malik said, that the Delhi verdict has paved the way for a BJP-free nation.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also congratulated AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for his party's massive win in the Delhi Assembly polls. Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Mr. Fadnavis said, the BJP will do necessary introspection for its loss.
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Social activist Anna Hazare today congratulated AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for the party's spectacular performance in Delhi Assembly polls. Addressing mediapersons at Ralegan Siddhi in Maharashtra, he said that the result was in favour of AAP because the "Achhe Din only came for industrialists" after the Narendra Modi-led government came to power at the Centre eight months back.
Hazare also urged Mr Kejriwal, his former team-member, not to forget his struggle for the Jan Lokpal Bill and take it forward. He hoped that Kejriwal will do a good job as the Chief Minister.
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BJP today said that the Centre will support Delhi Government in its endeavours without any political bias. Briefing media in New Delhi, Party leader and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, BJP will play the role of constructive opposition in the assembly. He said, party's vote share in this election has slightly declined and party has suffered badly in terms of seats. Mr Prasad said the party accepts defeat with humility and will analyze the reasons behind the poll debacle.
Aam Aadmi Party has registered a historic victory in Delhi Assembly Elections. We congratulate Aam Aadmi Party and its leader, Arvind Kejriwal on their victory and hope that Mr. Kejriwal will work to fulfill the promises and give good governance to Delhi. Central Government will always give every possible support for the development of Delhi and its people.
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The News Services Division of All India Radio will bring you a special bilingual live phone-in programme on the “Verdict of Delhi Assembly election”, tonight. Listeners can participate in this programme by telephoning to the Studios of All India Radio at telephone number: 2331-4444. This can be heard on Indraprastha, FM Gold Channels and additional frequencies from 9.30 to 10.30 pm.
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Nitish Kumar faction of JD(U) will parade 130 legislators before the President Pranab Mukejerjee in Rashtrapati Bhavan tomorrow. They will show their support to Nitish Kumar who has been elected as the new leader of JD(U) legislature party in place of present Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi. The MLAs reached New Delhi this evening. Yesterday, both Jitan Ram Manjhi and the Nitish Kumar groups had met Bihar Governor Keshri Nath Tripathi over the current political situation. Nitish Kumar has urged the Governor to invite him to form a new government calming that present Manjhi government has lost the majority in the House. The Governor is yet to take a call in this regard.
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The Haryana police today produced all the eight accused in the Nepalese girl rape and murder case before a Rohtak court and demanded ten days remand to complete the investigations. The court has granted 8 days' police remand. The Rohtak Bar Association has decided that no advocate will fight the case of those responsible for this inhuman act.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, a complete bandh was observed in Srinagar and major towns of valley today against the security forces' firing in north Kashmir in which a teenager was killed and another was injured last evening. The call for the strike was given by Hurriyat Conference. Curfew-like restrictions were imposed in most parts of the downtown localities of Srinagar city.
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News just in, the Chairman of militant outfit, Karbi Peoples Liberation Tigers, Donri Kramsa has been arrested in Karbi Anglong, a short while ago.
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Snapping a seven-day losing streak, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 128 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 28,356, after volatile trade. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange rose 39 points, to 8,566. But the rupee dropped 2 paise, to an over one-month low of 62.19 against the dollar, on dollar demand from banks and importers. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News.
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Services and Madhya Pradesh won three Gold each while Kerala bagged three Silver in the Kayak and Canoe events in the ongoing National Games at Thiruvananthapuram today.
In ten kilometre scratch event, women cyclists of the host state won the gold while in 15 kilometer scratch and C4 category of men's section, the Services came on top.
The Services continue to be on the top with 55 gold and a total of 89 medals in their kitty. Maharashtra with 100 medals including 27 gold are continuing on the second spot. Haryana with 56 medals including 27 gold are third while hosts Kerala are fourth with 71 medals including 21 gold.
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Riding on Rohit Sharma's strokeful 150, an under-fire India finally registered a win as they crushed minnows Afghanistan by 153 runs in their second and final World Cup warm-up match in Adelaide, Oval today. India elected to bat and despite early loses piled up a huge 364 for five in the alloted 50 overs.
Afghanistan who are making their first 50-over World Cup appearance, could only manage to score 211 for eight in 50 overs.
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Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu today flagged off three new trains by remote control at a function in New Delhi. The trains are Mumbai-Gorakhpur Jansadharan Express, Pune-Lucknow Weekly Express and Bidar-Mumbai Weekly Express. All the three trains are part of the last Budget announcements.
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The Government has deregulated the storage, transportation and sale of non-PDS Kerosene. The decision is expected to improve availability of non-PDS kerosene in the open market and expected to reduce demand for diverted PDS Kerosene.
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The Greek Defence Minister says, Greece could turn to the US, Russia or China if it fails to reach a new debt agreement with the Eurozone. Panos Kammenos, who heads the Junior Coalition Partner Independent Greeks, said that Greece had an obligation to go to Plan B, if proposals are rejected. Greece is preparing to plead its case for a new deal at a meeting of Eurozone Finance Ministers tomorrow. It says, the terms of its 240 billion euro bailout are too severe.
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