Modi concedes defeat as ruling BJP set to be decimated by anti-graft party in Delhi polls

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday conceded defeat in Delhi assembly polls after trends clearly showed that the anti-graft Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been heading for a landslide win, decimating the country's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The AAP, led by 46-year-old former civil servant-turned- politician Arvind Kejriwal, is currently leading in 66 out of 70 assembly seats, while the BJP is leading in just three seats, down from 32 seats in the last elections in December 2013, and the main opposition Congress party failing to get even one seat.

The official election results are, however, a few hours away.

Modi called up Kejriwal in the morning and congratulated him for his win and also promised him complete support. "Spoke to @ ArvindKejriwal & congratulated him on the win. Assured him Center' s complete support in the development of Delhi," the Prime Minister tweeted.

"This is the people's victory. My first priority will be to end bribery and VIP culture. I promise to be the janta's (people's) Chief Minister," said a jubilant Kejriwal, who had last year resigned as Delhi's Chief Minister after 49 days in office, leading a minority government with outside support from the Congress.

Though the party's failure in Delhi assembly polls is seen as a major setback for Modi, the BJP quipped that the results were not a referendum on the prime minister, who has enjoyed huge popularity since assuming office last year, winning elections after elections in states and wooing world leaders.

"The defeat is mine... it is not a referendum on PM Modi," said Kiran Bedi, a former top cop who was BJP's chief ministerial candidate in the Indian capital. She lost even her own seat, considered as a safe one for the BJP for years.

While the BJP focused its campaign attacking AAP, Kerjiwal conducted an energetic campaign which proved popular with working class and underprivileged voters who make up 60 percent of the population of the national capital.

Delhi, which went to polls on Feb. 7, has been without a government for a year, since Kejriwal resigned in February last year after both the BJP and the Congress blocked a bill aimed at creating an Ombudsman to investigate politicians and civil servants suspected of corruption.

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