Nation

AAP’s winning streak continues in Delhi seat, victory in important by-elections

June 26, 2022
Bharat Times

This is Durgesh Pathak’s first election victory.

New Delhi:

The Aam Aadmi Party lost in Punjab today, but continued its winning streak in Delhi with its candidate Durgesh Pathak, winning by a margin of over 11,000 votes against BJP’s Rajesh Bhatia in West Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar bypoll.

The seat fell vacant after Aam Aadmi Party MLA Raghav Chadha resigned and was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab. Raghav Chadha shared a picture of himself with Mr Pathak on Twitter saying, “I thank all the constituents of Rajinder Nagar Assembly Constituency once again for showering love and blessings on you. Today’s bypoll victory ‘Kejriwal Model of’ Governance’ is confirmed.” Best wishes to my brother Durgesh Pathak as I hand him the baton.”

For 31-year-old Pathak, this is his first election victory. In 2020, he contested from Karawal Nagar constituency, but lost to BJP’s Mohan Singh Bisht by over 8,000 votes.

After the victory, Durgesh Pathak visited Rajinder Nagar and congratulated his supporters and party workers. He told NDTV, “First of all I want to thank Arvind Kejriwal. This is a victory for all the work he has done. I want to thank all the AAP workers who worked so hard and thank the public, who made a difference. Man made. A legislator in humble origins.”

When asked about BJP’s allegations during the campaign that Mr Pathak was an outsider (unlike Rajinder Nagar resident and BJP candidate Rajesh Bhatia), the newly-elected MLA said, “I live in people’s hearts.”

Pathak, who hails from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, was a civil service aspirant but has been associated with the AAP since the anti-corruption movement and is currently in charge of the party for Himachal Pradesh, which goes to polls later this year.

AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who campaigned for Durgesh Pathak, tweeted to thank voters and said “people have defeated dirty politics and appreciated good work”. The official handle of the party also tweeted a picture of Mr Pathak feeding sweets after Kejriwal’s victory.

The bypoll was held on June 23 and saw a low turnout of 43.75 per cent compared to over 58 per cent in 2020, when Raghav Chadha won by a margin of over 20,000 votes.

The by-election saw a high-profile campaign with Union ministers like Piyush Goyal and Smriti Irani campaigning for Rajesh Bhatia of the BJP.

AAP leader Atishi today took a dig at one such campaign and tweeted, “The special thing about the Rajendra Nagar bypoll was that senior BJP leaders helped us and we thank all of them from our heart. You are above the party.” Got up and worked for Maa Bharati. Politics, you deserve most congratulations.”

AAP has a majority in the assembly with 62 of the total 70 seats, while the BJP currently has eight seats.

Delhi’s power structure will remain unaffected by the bypoll results, but is crucial in assessing public mood ahead of next year’s municipal elections.