Priyanka Gandhi on AAP’s Delhi defeat: ‘People wanted change, we must work harder’
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New Delhi: Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi weighed in on the INDIA bloc ally AAP’s heavy defeat in Delhi, stating that voters were discontent and had opted for change.
As the BJP secured a resounding victory, Priyanka extended her congratulations to the winners while stressing the need for the Opposition to strengthen its efforts and remain engaged with the public.
"It was very obvious from all the meetings that people wanted change. They voted for change. My congratulations to those who won. For the rest of us, it just means that we have to work harder, stay on the ground, and be responsive to the people's issues," she remarked.
Despite being allies in the INDIA bloc, Congress and AAP had contested the Delhi elections separately—a strategy that proved unsuccessful for both.
The results were particularly embarrassing for Congress—its third consecutive electoral wipeout in the capital.
The party failed to secure a single seat, just as in 2015 and 2020.
Priyanka is currently on a three-day visit to Kerala.
AAP, which had ruled Delhi for more than a decade, suffered a major setback as several senior leaders lost their seats.
Arvind Kejriwal was defeated in New Delhi by BJP’s Parvesh Verma, while prominent figures like Manish Sisodia and Saurabh Bharadwaj also faced losses.
The only exception was Atishi, who retained the Kalkaji seat, bringing some solace to the party.
AAP’s downfall was widely attributed to controversies surrounding its leadership, particularly the liquor policy case and the “sheeshmahal” row, which tainted Kejriwal’s image of "clean politics."
These scandals not only contributed to his personal defeat but also played a significant role in AAP’s collapse in Delhi, clearing the path for the BJP’s sweeping win.