AAP trounced BJP in Delhi polls; MSMEs say freebies played an important role

New Delhi, Feb 11 (KNN) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came out with flying colours in Delhi election as they raced ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to return to power in the national capital.

As per the election Commission website, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP was leading in 62 of the 70 seats in the Assembly while the BJP in 8. The Congress party, which ruled Delhi for 15 years before being voted in 2013, drew a blank.

It was a three-cornered contest this time between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), BJP and Congress. Present Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP saw a thumping win in 2015 Assembly elections with the party bagging 67 seats, leaving just three (seats) for the BJP. However, the saffron party managed to add some more seats this time.

With AAP retaining power, it is the third straight electoral setback for the BJP after losing Jharkhand and Maharashtra elections last year. Delhi recorded a voter turnout of 62.59 per cent when elections were held on Saturday.

Industry and traders have all eyes set on the elections to see what is in the anvil for them and what the parties have in offering for them in their election manifestos.

To dig into more details and to know the Delhi's industries' expectations, KNN India spoke to some of the industry bodies in Delhi, who feel that now industries need relief from those obstacles which had tied them from flourishing.

KNN India spoke to Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) President Praveen khandelwal who was of the view that freebies played an important role in this election.

''Freebies played an important role in this election. Freebies are always preferred than development and social work. If this trend is continue in other states also then it will be a disaster situation,'' he said.

Meanwhile, lauding the election results, Federation of Indian Industries (FII) Secretary General, H I Bhardwaj said that it's a good result and it will include all the development works.

''Whatever facilities is being provided by the Arvind Kejriwal will have positive impact on the people of Delhi. It's a very good result,'' he avowed.

The Delhi government's free-electricity scheme will be an example of "smart governance" as it is encouraging the people of the city to reduce their power consumption, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on October 10.

In August, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had announced free electricity of up to 200 units for domestic consumers and later extended the scheme to tenants residing in the national capital.

''Whatever he (Arvind Kejriwal) has done in the last five years was not so remarkable,'' said the Federation of India Women Entrepreneurs, President Rajnee Agrawal.