Landslide victory of AAP in Delhi; draws applause from India Inc

Top Stories

»	49% Indian startups now from tier 2, 3 cities: Jitendra Singh
»	'India ranks 3rd in global startup ecosystem & number of unicorns'
»	Tripura exported over 9K tonnes of pineapples in 2 years
»	CPI inflation eases to 6.71% in July, IIP falls to 12.3%
»	Rupee depreciates 12 paise to close at 79.64 against US dollar

SME Times News Bureau | 10 Feb, 2015
In one of the most stunning comebacks in Indian political history, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday scored a landslide win in Delhi, delivering to the BJP its first electoral defeat since its historic Lok Sabha triumph and reducing the Congress, that had ruled the capital for 15 years till 2013, to a virtual nonentity.

The 27-month-old party grabbed a sensational 67 of the 70 seats in the Delhi assembly, leaving just three seats to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- the highest victory margin for any party in Delhi so far.

Complementing AAP for its landslide win in the Delhi state elections, Indian industry Tuesday said it looks forward to collaborating with the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in the national capital's development.

An apex industry body, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said that Delhi election's results mandate for clean politics, cleaner governance.

President of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Alok B. Shriram has described the massive mandate of the people of Delhi in favour of AAP a vote for clean politics and cleaner governance in which there is no elbowroom for corruption and appeasement.

However, in his view, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government in Delhi should make all possible attempts to provision for education, women safety, water, electricity, sanitation and host of other such issues for people below the poverty line to meet their rising aspirations through transparent governance as well as make equally sounder efforts for the industrial development of Delhi.

The capital city, in view of PHD Chamber needs altogether new infrastructure, adequate water and power for its economic uplift with a cluster approach so that all its industrial pockets are revived to serve the emerging requirements of all stakeholders.

Wishing the AAP all the very best for its stellar performance in the Delhi elections, Shriram, however, advised its leadership not to indulge in an excessive exercise for giving out doles even for vulnerable as such measures might prove counterproductive and promote lethargy in the system in the long run.

Industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) also compliments and felicitates the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led by Arvind Kejriwal on its strong performance in Delhi Assembly Election 2015.

Zubin Irani, Chairman, CII Northern Region said, "CII and the industry in Delhi is confident that the new Government would be industry friendly and would strengthen Delhi’s position both economically and socially."

He further mentioned that CII looks forward to work with the State leadership on a focussed agenda comprising of GST, skill development, promotion of the services sector, upgradation of industrial areas and green energy, water conservation and women's safety.

Arjun Wallia, Chairman, CII Delhi State Council said, "Over the past, CII has worked through the focused Task Forces and Joint Working Groups to address the issues of city development, green and renewal energy, education, etc.."

CII has prepared a Vision document 2020 for Delhi and would be interacting with the new government to take it forward in partnership. "Our focus will be to project Delhi as the Knowledge Hub of India by promotion of education, innovation, research and development, life sciences, healthcare, knowledge tourism and creative industry," he added.

CII assures its complete support in making Delhi a world-class State.

The industry body said that the capital city needs altogether new infrastructure, adequate water and power for its economic upliftment coupled with a cluster approach so that all its industrial pockets are revived to serve the emerging requirements of stakeholders.

Privately, industry leaders remained apprehensive over the policies the AAP government will pursue.

They also advised the AAP leadership not to indulge in an excessive exercise in giving out doles as such measures could prove counterproductive and promote lethargy in the system.

Industrialist Harsh Pati Singhania too congratulated Kejriwal for leading AAP to a landslide victory in Delhi assembly elections.

"His unhindered zest to project the issues of common man as his election motto has reaped rich dividends," Harsh Pati Singhania, director, J.K. Organisation and vice chairman and managing director, JK Paper said.

Top banker Deepak Parekh described the victory of AAP in Delhi's assembly elections as a "vote for change".

"It is a change for which the people of Delhi voted," Parekh, chairman of Housing Development Finance Corporation told reporters in Mumbai on the sidelines of an event.

"I think what has impacted Delhi elections is that in the last seven-eight months nothing changed there when it was under the L-G (Lieutenant Governor) role. It may have upset the people," he said.

According to Parekh, only time will tell how AAP delivers on its promises of cheaper power and access to water.

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal is set to take oath as chief minister of Delhi on Saturday, sources said.