Bad day for Kejriwal: Huge BJP wave washes out AAP in Delhi municipal polls

Polling to elect Delhi's municipal councillors saw a massive saffron wave, with the BJP winning some 183 seats of the total 270 seats up for grabs across three municipals. 

The 1.32 crore voters entitled to exercise their franchise in electing councillors for 270 wards fall under the three corporations - NDMC (103), SDMC (104) and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (63).

The BJP won 76 in NDMC, 42 in East Delhi and 65 in South Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party is in third place with a total of 38 seats, one behind the Congress, which bagged 39 seats. 

Exit polls had favoured the BJP and suggested a tie between Congress and AAP. If by the end of the day, AAP does not manage to fair well, it would certainly be considered as a referendum on the party's performance over the last three years in power. Arvind Kejriwal will now face a huge challenge to prove himself and his party.

The AAP was the only party that had managed to halt BJP's victory march in Delhi during the last general elections. But, over the years, the AAP government has been hogging headlines for all the wrong reasons – be it a fight with the Governor, in-fighting in the party or in dealing with the Centre’s interference. And not to speak of its poor scorecard in the administration. Arvind Kejriwal has to prove that his win was not a ‘luck by chance’. Now he cannot even blame the EVMs.

As of now, BJP seems to be a clear winner in Delhi and this will certainly retain their power at the corproation. But it is the Congress which really needs to do some soul-searching and revive the party before it’s too late.

• delhi civic polls results
• arvind kejriwal
• BJP in Delhi civic polls