Delhi mandate against AAP’s politics of deceit, not a win for PM: Congress

The Congress party has accepted the verdict of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections with humility, acknowledging the need for greater efforts to reconnect with the electorate. Senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Jairam Ramesh, have expressed their commitment to continuing the fight for Delhi’s progress and addressing critical issues such as pollution, inflation, and corruption.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended gratitude to party workers and voters, stating, "We humbly accept the mandate of Delhi. Heartfelt thanks to all the Congress workers of the state for their dedication and to all the voters for their support. The fight against pollution, inflation, and corruption - for Delhi's progress and its citizens' rights - will continue."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that while the party had worked tirelessly to create a public movement against the ruling government, the anticipated support did not materialize. "In the Delhi Assembly elections, the Congress party created an atmosphere against the government in the interest of the public, but the public did not give us the mandate as expected. We accept the public's verdict," Kharge stated.

Acknowledging the efforts of Congress leaders and workers under challenging conditions, Kharge stressed the need for further perseverance. "Every leader and worker of Congress united and worked hard in adverse conditions, but there is still a need for more hard work and struggle. In the coming days, we will continue to raise issues of pollution, Yamuna cleaning, electricity, roads, water, and development in Delhi and will remain connected with the public."

Congress MP and general secretary in charge of communications, Jairam Ramesh, described the election results as a referendum on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), rather than an endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Ramesh pointed out that AAP had previously secured decisive victories in 2015 and 2020 despite Modi’s national appeal, but this time, the electorate had delivered a different verdict.

"This verdict reflects a rejection of Kejriwal’s politics rather than an endorsement of Modi’s leadership. The electorate has ruled against Kejriwal’s governance, which was based on deceit, deception, and vastly exaggerated claims of achievement," Ramesh asserted.

He credited Congress for exposing various scams linked to Kejriwal’s administration and noted that voters had now delivered their judgment on his 12-year tenure.

Despite failing to secure a seat in the election, Ramesh maintained that Congress had increased its vote share and conducted a vigorous campaign. "While we may not have won seats, our presence in Delhi remains strong, and we are confident of expanding electorally in the coming years. We aim to form the government in Delhi in 2030."

The Congress party, while acknowledging its shortcomings in the election, remains determined to re-establish its influence in the capital by persistently advocating for public concerns and positioning itself as a strong alternative in the years ahead.