MCD results a vote against Cong: BJP

New Delhi: As the results and trends for the elections to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi poured in, indicating a landslide victory for the BJP, the party wasted no time in describing it a "referendum against the Sheila Dikshit-led Congress Government in Delhi."

"It's a referendum against Sheila Dikshit. She should accept responsibility. She should resign," BJP leader Vijay Goel demanded. "Dikshit is not different from MCD. In fact, MCD is a part of the Delhi Government," he pointed out.

Goel alleged that the Congress Government has refused to listen to the problems of the people. "People are fed up with the Congress whether it's at MCD, whether it's at the Delhi Government or whether it's at the Centre. Inflation is the biggest worry at this hour. Water and power, too, are genuine concerns," he said.

Goel said the mood in the party is upbeat and it's a big verdict in its favour.

Chief Minister Dikshit, however, denied it's a verdict against the Delhi Government. "It is not a reflection of the public mood towards the Delhi Government. People know we do our work properly in the Delhi government. There were issues and problems. We will work for the Assembly polls from tomorrow itself," she said.

BJP leader VK Malhotra has said that inflation, sealing and rising prices were important factors in the elections.

"These are municipal elections but it reflects the people's mood on central policies and Delhi government's policies. Inflation, rising prices, internal security, terrorism, corruption were some of the issues in the polls," he said.

Malhotra added, "At the same time, the issue of sealing and bulldozer policies are all at stake and the people have expressed their opinion."

Dikshit, however, said that sealing and price rise had no impact on the results of the MCD elections. Dikshit said she respected the verdict of Delhi and acknowledges the choice of the people.

Delhi BJP president Harshvardhan said the results were on expected lines. "We had expected two-thirds majority in the MCD elections. This has come true," he said.

"It's a big challenge, Delhi has offered us and we are going to face it successfully. Our first task will be to restore the credibility of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. In the last five years, when the Congress was in the helm of affairs in MCD, the party converted it into a den of corruption and of inefficiency. People have lost faith in the system," Harshvardhan claims.

He pledged the BJP will convert MCD into a transparent and people-friendly organisation. "There are lots of regulations and norms which are causing harassment to the people. We will get rid of them," he said.