AAP showing marks start of 'honest politics', says Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) spectacular showing in the Delhi elections marks the "start of honest politics" in India, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said Sunday.

"It is the start of honest politics," Kejriwal told the media after it emerged that his party had finished second in the 70-member house with 27 seats.

He congratulated the BJP and its chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan for coming on top with 32 seats -- four short of a majority.

The Congress, which had ruled Delhi since 1998, was routed. It won only eight seats.

Ramon Magsaysay award winner Kejriwal, who trounced Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in New Delhi constituency, said the AAP had shown that people with integrity could take to electoral politics -- and win.

"This is not our victory, it is people's victory," he said.

The AAP, he said, fought the Delhi elections with a budget of Rs.20 crore, collecting the money from donors in a transparent manner.

"The moment we reached the target, we put an end to the collection... This has never happened anywhere in the world."

Kejriwal said he had no "personal enmity" with Dikshit.

"This was a battle of principles. We are against corruption and price rise... Ours is a historic win."

He said the fruits of AAP victories would not be limited to Delhi "but will spread throughout the country".

Kejriwal said the AAP would play the role of "a constructive opposition. We will never accept support from anyone".