Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has conceded the defeat of his party in the Delhi state election after vote counting showed anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal’s party heading for a landslide victory.
Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the election to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The AAP’s leader, former tax officer Mr Kejriwal, ran against Mr Modi in the seat of Varanasi during last year’s federal election.
Mr Modi has sent a tweet saying he has spoken to Mr Kejriwal assuring him that he has the federal government’s complete support when it comes to developing Delhi.
Hundreds of AAP supporters massed outside the party’s headquarters in Delhi, dancing, singing and waving flags with pictures of Mr Kejriwal after the result became clear.
A BJP spokesman said the results were not a sign of anti-Modi sentiment and that the election had been fought on local issues, including pledges for lower utility bills and countering corruption.
“There is not an iota of negativity against the NDA (national) government anywhere in the country let alone in Delhi,” spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao told NDTV.
“There is a local election where local factors dominated.”
This is the first state election loss for Mr Modi’s party in the past year and is a set back in his effort to consolidate power in the national parliament.
He needs to win state elections to gain control of the upper house where he is trying to push through economic reforms.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has conceded the defeat of his party in the Delhi state election after vote counting showed anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal’s party heading for a landslide victory.
Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the election to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The AAP’s leader, former tax officer Mr Kejriwal, ran against Mr Modi in the seat of Varanasi during last year’s federal election.
Mr Modi has sent a tweet saying he has spoken to Mr Kejriwal assuring him that he has the federal government’s complete support when it comes to developing Delhi.
Hundreds of AAP supporters massed outside the party’s headquarters in Delhi, dancing, singing and waving flags with pictures of Mr Kejriwal after the result became clear.
A BJP spokesman said the results were not a sign of anti-Modi sentiment and that the election had been fought on local issues, including pledges for lower utility bills and countering corruption.
“There is not an iota of negativity against the NDA (national) government anywhere in the country let alone in Delhi,” spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao told NDTV.
“There is a local election where local factors dominated.”
This is the first state election loss for Mr Modi’s party in the past year and is a set back in his effort to consolidate power in the national parliament.
He needs to win state elections to gain control of the upper house where he is trying to push through economic reforms.
Indian prime minister Narendra Modi has conceded the defeat of his party in the Delhi state election after vote counting showed anti-corruption campaigner Arvind Kejriwal’s party heading for a landslide victory.
Mr Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost the election to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
The AAP’s leader, former tax officer Mr Kejriwal, ran against Mr Modi in the seat of Varanasi during last year’s federal election.
Mr Modi has sent a tweet saying he has spoken to Mr Kejriwal assuring him that he has the federal government’s complete support when it comes to developing Delhi.
Hundreds of AAP supporters massed outside the party’s headquarters in Delhi, dancing, singing and waving flags with pictures of Mr Kejriwal after the result became clear.
A BJP spokesman said the results were not a sign of anti-Modi sentiment and that the election had been fought on local issues, including pledges for lower utility bills and countering corruption.
“There is not an iota of negativity against the NDA (national) government anywhere in the country let alone in Delhi,” spokesman GVL Narasimha Rao told NDTV.
“There is a local election where local factors dominated.”
This is the first state election loss for Mr Modi’s party in the past year and is a set back in his effort to consolidate power in the national parliament.
He needs to win state elections to gain control of the upper house where he is trying to push through economic reforms.
Source: ABC NEWS.