Bengaluru, Feb 10 (IANS) A very positive campaign focusing on development and governance led to a spectacular victory for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi assembly election, former Infosys director and AAP leader in Karnataka V. Balakrishnan said Tuesday.
"We ran a very positive campaign focusing on development and governance in Delhi. We never did any negative campaign. That is what had resonated well with the electorate," Balakrishnan told IANS after participating in a victory lap the party's city unit took out in the evening to celebrate its stunning win in Delhi.
Of the 70 seats in the Delhi legislative assembly, the two-year-old AAP won in 67, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in three and the Congress and other parties drew a blank.
On the near decimation of the BJP at the hustings, Balakrishnan said the BJP ran a negative campaign and personally attacked AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.
"They (BJP) never came with any agenda on what they can do for Delhi. More over, it brought Kiran Bedi in the last minute as its chief ministerial candidate, which had not gone well with the electorate," he said.
Balakrishnan, who contested on AAP ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Bangalore Central constituency but lost to BJP's sitting P. Mohan, campaigned for the party in the Delhi assembly poll along with other leaders from Karnataka.
Noting the Congress was never in contention, he claimed they gave up even before the elections were held.
Asserting that nobody was invincible in a democracy, Balakrishnan said the lesson to be learnt from the Delhi outcome was never become arrogant and take the electorate for granted.
"The lesson to learn is when people give a mandate, perform to fulfill the promises made to them. If you run a campaign with positive mindset, focused on development and governance, they (people) will repose faith in you," he said.
Riding on the resounding victory in the national capital, the party's state unit plans to contest in the upcoming local body elections to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) due this summer.
"We will contest in all the seats (198) in the BBMP election. If you look at the issues in Bengaluru it is similar to the issues in Delhi. Governance in Bengaluru is terrible and both BJP and Congress, which were running the civic administration all these years, have not done anything to improve the city," Balakrishnan said.
Noting that an alternate to both the BJP and Congress with fresh views on solving the issues facing Bengaluru was imperative, he hoped his party would be able to capture the imagination of the people with its fresh thinking and development agenda.
"I would like the citizens to be more participative in all civic issues concerning Bengaluru. Elect honest and competent leaders and demand accountability. If citizens are active and aware then things could change. Do not vote based on caste and do not succumb to money power. Ultimately, in a democracy you get a government you deserve. Use your votes wisely and elect an honest and competent government," Balakrishnan added.
Experts told five big ways to avoid the Omicron variant, so that you stay safe, the country will be saved from lockdown
There is an outcry in the country over Omicron. In the last 24 hours, 2,58,089 new cases of corona have been reported in the country. Along with this, there has also been an increase in people
PAK Boycott Asia Cup: Pakistan packs its bags even without the boycott! Understand how easily
The difficulties of the Pakistan cricket team have increased in the Asia Cup 2025. After suffering a crushing defeat from India, now the team's entry into the Super-4 is now in danger. Not only this,
IGI Airport: Arrangements disturbed due to increasing crowd, many passengers caught the flight while running, many argued with the security personnel
After facing two waves of corona and a long lockdown, people are now traveling a lot, but perhaps the arrangements are not fully prepared. There are long queues at airports. Very long queues were seen
Khushboo Patani: Khushboo got angry over the comment against Aniruddhacharya, warned of legal action
In the case of commenting against spiritual guru Premananda Maharaj, now actress Disha Patani's sister Khushboo Patani has once again warned those who defame her of legal action. Reiterating her
Explained: Rate of COVID-19 Spread In India, World
भारत में COVID-19 का प्रसारण पिछले एक हफ्ते में काफी हद तक बढ़ गया है, फिर भी यह दर
T20 WorldCup: Australian team announced for T20 World Cup, Marsh captain, McGurk and Steve Smith did not get a place
After India, New Zealand, South Africa, England, and Afghanistan, now Australia has also announced a 15-member team. Experienced batsman Steve Smith, Delhi Capitals' explosive batsman Jake
Coronavirus: 8 million people withdraw money from PF, what will be the effect on you
In three months, 80 lakh people have withdrawn money by breaking their provident fund.
Bahrain minister in India, holds talks with Sushma
New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS) Bahrain, a key Gulf partner, and India held their first High Joint Commission meeting here Sunday during the meeting between its foreign minister Shaikh Khalid Bin Ahmed
Chemical attack on girl students in Iran: Hundreds were poisoned to prevent them from studying, mothers protested, pulled them by hair, arrested
Some videos of Iran are going viral on social media. In these, police are seen arresting women by pulling their hair. It is being told that these are the mothers of the girls who are currently
Increased tension on oil from Saudi Arabia, now Joe Biden's big decision; will open the treasury of crude
Tensions with the US have increased due to the reduction in oil production by the OPEC+ countries led by Saudi Arabia. America says that OPEC is taking this step to benefit Russia. Recently, OPEC+
