'Big setback', we will introspect: BJP on defeat in Delhi

NEW DELHI: After its humiliating defeat at the hands of AAP in Delhi polls, BJP today admitted that it is a "big setback" and the party will soon introspect the reasons behind the dismal showing.

The party also said that Delhi's loss is a "collective failure" of the party and the defeat cannot be thrown on any single individual, seen as an attempt to deflect any blame on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The party leaders while congratulating Arvind Kejriwal, hoped he will now fulfil the promises made to people and ensure development of Delhi even as the Centre promised to extend all its support to the new government.

"It is a big setback for us. We will assess the reasons of the defeat. We accept the verdict of the people and hope Kejriwal fulfils his promises made to people. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said, the Centre will extend all its help to Delhi government," BJP Spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

Party general secretary P Murlidhar Rao said, "BJP's defeat in Delhi elections is a collective failure of our party. It cannot be thrown on any single individual. We all own the loss."

"Election results for Delhi state is a setback for BJP. BJP accepts d(the) defeat in Delhi elections. We respect the verdict n(and) positively cooperate with Delhi government on d development," Rao tweeted.

He felt that since Haryana elections, where BJP got a majority, has not impacted Delhi polls. "Why Delhi elections will impact BJP in other states".

"Extending d Verdict of Delhi elections to unrelated issues is like stretching too far. Central govt performance was not d election issue," he said in another tweet.

Another BJP Spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the party will assess the reasons why the party failed to appeal to Delhi voters and hoped Kejriwal will fulfil all the promises made.

"It is a huge victory for AAP. BJP would certainly assess what were the reasons that we have not not been able to appeal to the voters of Delhi. We wish well for AAP for delivering on the promises made and give Delhi a good government," he said.

Party's Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay admitted that the party failed to understand the mood of the people.

"We accept the mandate given by the people of Delhi. We failed to understand the mood of the people. BJP will continue to serve the people as it had been doing in the past. I congratulate Kejriwal on his victory," Upadhyay said.

Another party spokesperson G V L Narsimha Rao said the polls were a referendum on Kejriwal and could not be seen as reflection on the performance of the Modi government as local issues dominated the polls.

"I do not see in this way," he said when asked whether the elections were a referendum on Modi's performance.

"In this election it was a referendum on Arvind Kejriwal. That's how people of Delhi saw it. I think people have certainly voted for Kejriwal. It was a referendum of AAP's 49 days in office and its performance. People felt they should be given a chance," he said.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav has also congratulated Kejriwal for his victory in the Delhi polls.