Will win all seats in civic polls next year: Kejriwal

Buoyed by winning five seats in civic by-elections, the Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday said it is eyeing a win on all seats in the civic bodies' polls next year.

Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said people had reaffirmed their faith in his party.

"MCD ruled by BJP-Cong. Outsider AAP wins max seats in byelection. Thnx Delhi for reaffirming faith. Ab MCD election mein sabhi seat jeetni h," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

By-elections to the 13 seats were held on May 15 and the results were declared by the state election commission on Tuesday. The elections were being seen as a semi-final to the civic polls next year.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a loss, retaining only three of 13 seats. The Congress improved its position by winning four seats. One Independent winner later announced he had joined the Congress.

AAP's Delhi unit convener Dilip Pandey said: "The credit for our success goes to our volunteers. I thank the people of Delhi for showing faith in us. This was our debut in the local body by-elections and we had a remarkable experience."

"It is a spectacular start for AAP. These by-elections are a launchpad for us and now our next target is to win all 272 seats in the MCD elections next year."

He said the AAP has the potential to keep BJP and the Congress seats to the minimum. Despite all-out efforts from big leaders of the BJP and the Congress, people reaffirmed their faith in AAP, Pandey said.

"Local body elections have different issues, which are more local. Such elections depend more on the person and his proximity. We were expecting a few more seats. AAP will assess the reasons why it could not reach its expectations," the AAP leader added.

Of the 13 wards spread across Delhi, seven are under South Delhi Municipal Corporation, four under North Delhi Municipal Corporation and two under East Delhi Municipal Corporation. These seats fell vacant after their corporators resigned to contest the Delhi assembly polls in 2013 and 2014.

--IANS

am/tsb/bg