AAP lost badly in Punjab and Goa.

New Delhi, March 11

It was to have been a day of celebrations for the Aam Admi Party, but the BJP stole the show by winning big. Barring Punjab, the saffron party won largely in four states.

After AAP lost badly in Punjab and Goa, gloom enveloped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence in Delhi.

Ever since the February 4 election ended in both the states, the Aam Aadmi Party was supremely confident of taking office in Punjab although its claims were muted vis-a-vis Goa.

As late as last week, AAP leader and Punjab’s election strategist Sanjay Singh boasted that the party would not win less than 100 of the 117 seats, wiping out both the Congress and the ruling Akali Dal-BJP combine.

When the votes were counted on Saturday, the reverse happened. The Akali-BJP did lose but the Congress stormed back to power with a thumping majority.

AAP activists, stunned into silence, slowly began dispersing from outside Kejriwal’s residence, taking away the brooms —the party symbol —they had brought along.

Shock and disappointment was writ large on everyone’s face. Many refused to speak to journalists.

Slowly, arrangements made for the announcement of the election results from Punjab and Goa were removed. In Goa, the AAP fared much worse, not winning even one seat.

A large TV screen placed outside Kejriwal’s residence displaying the live trends and results was switched off as the day progressed.

AAP workers also removed the tricolour balloons used to decorate the street leading to Kejriwal’s residence.

An audio system, playing songs since the morning about the AAP and its election symbol broom, was switched off. The big speakers were removed by around 1 pm.

Soon after, the entire area wore a deserted look.

—IANS