Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to the Supreme Court for declaring the AAP-Congress candidate winner in the Chandigarh mayoral polls.

Kejriwal congratulated the AAP-Congress candidate, Kuldeep Kumar, on behalf of the INDIA bloc on becoming the mayor of Chandigarh, saying this was possible because of Indian democracy and the honourable Supreme Court. “We have to preserve the impartiality of our democracy and autonomous institutions at any cost,” he added.

The AAP chief, addressing a press conference here, welcomed the top court’s verdict calling it historic, and added that under the present circumstances, it holds a lot of significance. He said it was not only a big victory for INDIA but also for the people of Chandigarh.

AAP chief said, “…I think this has happened for the first time in India’s history. We thank the Supreme Court. The situation in the country is such that democracy is being trampled upon. At a time when all the institutions are being trampled upon such a decision holds a lot of significance for the democracy.”

“We have snatched victory from them. They had ‘stolen’ the election, but we fought till the end and won,” Delhi CM said.

Lashing out at the BJP, he said the episode was just about stealing votes but an indication of what is going to happen in the upcoming general elections.

He said the Chandigarh mayoral polls have totally exposed how elections are being stolen. Replying to a question, he said their conspiracy was to break away our councilors and adopt various measures.

“This election of the INDIA has sent across a very big message to those who say BJP cannot be defeated. BJP can be defeated if we come together and work with coordination.”

Welcoming the decision of the apex court, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said truth has prevailed at last.

Earlier in the day, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj took a dig at the ruling dispensation at the Centre, saying the world’s biggest party tried to play games even in these minuscule-level elections and got caught on camera.