MCD bypoll results a setback for us: BJP Delhi chief

By Shashi Bhushan New Delhi, March 3 : The bypoll results of Municipal Corporations of Delhi have come as a setback for the BJP, which had been ruling the civic body for three consecutive terms. Results for five municipal wards, show that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has won four and the Congress won one municipal ward.
Terming the result as setback, Delhi BJP chief Adesh Gupta told the IANS out of five municipal wards four were with the AAP and one (Shalimar Bagh) is with the BJP but the party failed to retain it.
Gupta has accepted that the results did not come as per the party’s expectations and corrective steps will be taken after detailed analysis of reasons behind defeat.
“We’ve sought detailed reports from the poll in-charge of these five municipal wards asking to list the reasons for defeat. Once the report comes, we will identify the shortcomings and correct them before next year’s municipal polls,” Gupta said.
A senior Delhi BJP leader claimed that the rising fuel and cooking gas prices forced the urban poor to vote against the party. “During campaigning at several places, people complained about rising fuel and cooking gas prices. They asked us to request the union government to control the prices that were adversely affecting the household budget,” said Delhi BJP leaders.
Another leader pointed out that the disconnect with people found reflection in the results. “For last six months, we have been raising issues like AAP-led Delhi government stalling release of funds amounting to Rs 13,000 crore to the civic bodies or a scam of Rs 26,000 crore in Delhi Jal Board. But results show that people have other concerns and they did not believe the allegations levelled by us against the AAP government,” he said.