Atishi’s Victory Dance Sparks Criticism Amid AAP’s Election Setback
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi faced backlash for celebrating her Kalkaji Assembly win as AAP suffered a major electoral defeat
09-02-2025Delhi Chief Minister Atishi found herself at the center of a controversy after a video surfaced of her dancing with supporters to celebrate her victory in the Kalkaji Assembly constituency. While she managed to retain her seat in a closely contested race, her celebratory mood drew sharp criticism from AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal, who called it a “shameless display,” given the party’s overall poor performance.
Maliwal took to social media to question the timing of Atishi’s celebration, highlighting that AAP had suffered a major electoral defeat, with nearly all its senior leaders—including Arvind Kejriwal—losing their seats. "The party has faced a crushing loss, its top leaders have been defeated, and yet this is how Atishi chooses to react?" she remarked.
Atishi secured her win after a tough battle, polling 52,154 votes and defeating BJP candidate Ramesh Bidhuri by a margin of 3,521 votes. The contest remained tense, with Bidhuri initially leading, raising concerns that AAP might suffer yet another setback. However, Atishi gained momentum in the later rounds of counting, securing one of the party’s few victories.
Despite her personal success, AAP faced a dismal outcome overall, securing only 28 seats. Meanwhile, the BJP made a stunning comeback in Delhi after 27 years, clinching a decisive 48-seat victory.
Earlier in the day, Atishi addressed the media, expressing gratitude to the people of Kalkaji and her campaign team. "I thank the voters for their trust in me and appreciate my team’s hard work against all odds. While I have won, this is not a moment for celebration. We must continue our fight against the BJP’s oppressive politics," she stated.
AAP’s loss was particularly significant, with key leaders such as Arvind Kejriwal, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Durgesh Pathak, and Manish Sisodia failing to secure their seats. The vote share reflected the party’s struggles, with AAP securing 43.57%, while the BJP garnered 45.56%. Congress, on the other hand, failed to win any seats and recorded a meager 6.34% vote share.
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