Newcomer Aam Admi Party, born out of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption agitation, today created history by winning 28 seats in the 70-member Delhi Assembly election which saw BJP emerging as the single largest party and Congress suffering a rout with three-time Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit even losing her own seat.
It is a hung House with BJP winning 31 seats, falling short of the majority mark of 36 despite its ally Shiromani Akali Dal getting one seat. Reduced to number three position, Congress bagged a paltry eight seats as many senior ministers and heavyweights failed to retain their constituencies in the election that saw massive anti-incumbency wave.
One seat each was secured by Janata Dal (U) and Independent.
A visibly shaken Dikshit, who ruled Delhi for 15 years, sent her resignation to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung around noon as trends indicated a debacle from Congress in the hustings.
"We accept our defeat and we will analyse what went wrong. We respect what the people of Delhi have decided and thank them for supporting us for last 15 years," Dikshit told reporters at her residence during a brief appearance and even snapped when asked if her party failed to read the mood of the city.
"Bewakoof hain na (we are idiots, right?)", retorted Dikshit.
The three-time Chief Minister herself lost to Arvind Kejriwal by a huge margin of 25,864 votes in the New Delhi constituency in a shocking defeat.
A number of Congress heavy-weights including cabinet ministers lost in the election as AAP, born following the civil society movement for Lokpal Bill led by Anna Hazare, made a strong dent into Congress' support base.
BJP's chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan thanked people of Delhi for giving the party the maximum number of seats.
"I am confident that we will be able to serve the people of Delhi," he said, declining to take questions about the formation of next government.
Vardhan extended his wishes to Arvind Kejriwal of AAP and the outgoing Chief Minister.
"I will congratulate Kejriwal on the good show of his party against expectations. I will also offer my thanks to Dikshit for serving Delhi for 15 years," he said.
Vardhan won from the Krishna Nagar constituency with a whopping margin of over 43,150 votes.
In New Delhi constituency, Kejriwal pulled off a major upset against Dikshit, defeating her with a thumping margin of over 25,864 votes.
Making a brief appearance before party volunteers at his Hunuman Road office for the first time after the result was declared, he attributed his victory to the people of New Delhi Constituency.
"This is not my victory, it is a victory of people of New Delhi constituency and victory of democracy," he said, after defeating Dikshit.
Asked whether he will seek support of Congress to form government, Kejriwal said, "We will play the role of a constructive opposition and will not seek support from any party to form the government.
