Stating that the new MCD mayor will be from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta, on Friday, said the saffron party will serve the people of the National Capital by becoming a strong Opposition in the civic body.

“Now, BJP will serve the people of the National Capital by becoming a strong Opposition and expose the corrupt Aam Aadmi Party,” Gupta said while addressing the media for the first time after losing the MCD polls.

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Expressing gratitude to the people, he said, “BJP expresses gratitude to all the voters, for the 40 per cent voter turnout it received in the municipal elections. At the same time, BJP promises that in the corporation too, it will strongly raise questions and problems related to the people of Delhi and will try its best to fulfill them.”

The Delhi BJP president also thanked the Delhi Police and the Election Commission.

Gupta further said, “Last time, we got 36.08 per cent votes whereas this time the percentage of votes has gone up to 39.09. There were many seats where we could not convert the result into victory by a small margin. Our heartfelt gratitude to the people of Delhi for giving so much respect to BJP’s service, dedication and determination.”

He said the only change this time as compared to the last time is that the Congress has bowed down before the Aam Aadmi Party.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal was determined to win 230 seats, but the people of Delhi thwarted his intention by helping BJP win 104 seats. He said that on one hand Kejriwal talks about seeking the blessings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi while on the other hand he has shown his mindset by not implementing Ayushman Bharat scheme of the Central Government. If this scheme is implemented, the poor will get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh.

Bidhuri said that when Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana is applicable in all the states but why not in Delhi, Kejriwal should answer this. The chief minister does not talk about not implementing the scheme of the Modi government which gives subsidy on irrigation, Rs 2000 to the farmers even after giving crop compensation.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Delhi BJP president had refuted the poaching allegations made by AAP leader and Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and said that his party believes in democracy and its strength.

Sisodia had alleged that BJP is trying to poach newly elected AAP councillors. Speaking to media persons, the BJP leader said, “Why is Sisodia worried? BJP believes in democracy and its own strength. Party will work for the people of Delhi and work towards the development of Delhi.”

He thanked the people of Delhi and congratulated the winning candidates of the BJP and said that all the candidates who have won will work towards the betterment of the people of Delhi.

Gupta said that BJP will work as a constructive opposition in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

“We have revealed the true colours of the corrupt Aam Aadmi Party and we will continue to reveal what is wrong in front of the public. BJP improved the cleaning and health system of Delhi and also improved the quality of schools that come under the Nigam, along with the parks, and we will continue to do so. After 15 years of governance, 104 candidates of the BJP have won, we thank the people of Delhi for making it possible,” he added.

Sisodia alleged that the AAP councillors have started receiving calls from the BJP, alleging poaching attempts of newly-elected party councillors after the civic poll results.

“BJP’s game has started. Phone calls started coming to our newly elected corporators,” Sisodia said in a tweet.

Sisodia exuded confidence and said that none of the councillors will be “sold”.

“None of our councillors will be sold. We have told all the corporators that if they get a phone call or come to meet them, record them,” tweeted Sisodia.

The AAP on Wednesday stormed to power in the MCD, ending the 15-year rule of the BJP in the powerful civic body of the National Capital.

The AAP won 134 of the 250 wards while the saffron party, which had been ruling the civic body since 2007, bagged 104 seats. The Congress finished a poor third with nine seats while Independents bagged three wards.