From Jantar Mantar to ‘Choo-Mantar’, Saamana’s editorial on Arvind Kejriwal’s loss in MCD Elections

Calling Kejriwal's petty politics responsible for 'AAP's suicide' in MCD elections, the editorial said that "instead of blaming the EVM responsible for the loss in MCD elections, the party should have accepted the voter's decision and moved forward."

Mumbai, Apr 29: Taking a dig at Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) loss in Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections, Shiv Sena in its mouthpiece Saamana stated various reason for the party’s loss in the Delhi Municipal election. Calling Kejriwal’s petty politics responsible for ‘AAP’s suicide’ in MCD elections, the editorial said that “instead of blaming the EVM responsible for the loss in MCD elections, the party should have accepted the voter’s decision and moved forward.”

The editorial further states that Shiv Sena was one of the first parties to support and congratulate AAP after its massive victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. “We (Shiv Sena) were among the first parties to congratulate AAP for winning the Delhi Assembly elections just months after the general elections. Despite the Modi wave in the general elections, the people of Delhi gave Arvind Kejriwal a chance and AAP won 67 seats out of the 70 seats in the assembly elections. However, instead of concentrating on Delhi and taking full advantage of the public support, the party focussed in national politics and tried to emerge as the third option among the masses.”

Commenting on AAP’s poor performance, the editorial read, “Concentrating on emerging as a national party affected AAP and the party, which was projected to form the government in Punjab Assembly elections, is now in the opposition and the party even failed in opening its account in Goa Assembly polls.”

BJP’s strategy helped the party to win

Congratulating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its third consecutive victory in the MCD polls, the editorial said that the party’s decision in fielding fresh candidates in the municipal elections proved to be fruitful for BJP. “All the corporators in Delhi were alleged to be corrupt and the voters were against these corporators. Understanding the mood of the voters, the BJP decided to sack all the present corporators and field fresh candidates in the polls. This proved to be one of the major reason for the party’s success in the MCD elections and helped the party to retain power in all the three corporations that it has been ruling for over a decade,” the editorial read. (Also Read: Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘Modi obsession’ and AAP’s criticism to demonetisation, surgical strike responsible for party’s loss- AAP Goa leader)

From Jantar Mantar to Choo-Mantar

Commenting on AAP’s entry into politics, the editorial said, “Before joining politics, Arvind Kejriwal with his colleagues used to protest in Jantar Mantar against corruption. However, the party later joined politics with the aim of changing the current system prevailing in the country. Despite receiving people’s support, the party failed in achieving the promises it made. Now the party has no support among the masses nor they have Anna Hazare besides them. It seems like the party that began from Jantar Mantar has now been Choo-Mantar (disappeared) among the voters of Delhi.”