Performance writes off polarisation: INVINCIBLE

Compliments poured in from various quarters as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) scored a massive win in the Delhi assembly elections. Among them was Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, who pointed at how party convenor Arvind Kejriwal had managed to return to power with a decisive mandate despite the rival BJP launching a vitriolic campaign against him.

"I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal and the people of Delhi for AAP's victory in #DelhiPolls2020. People have shown that the country will be run by 'Jan Ki Baat', not 'Mann Ki Baat'. BJP called Kejriwal a terrorist but couldn't defeat him," news agency ANI quoted Uddhav Thackeray as saying on Tuesday.

The Maharashtra Chief Minister was referring to how several BJP politicians, including MP Parvesh Verma and Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, had repeatedly referred to Arvind Kejriwal as a "terrorist" during the stormy campaign in the run-up to voting day.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who campaigned for the BJP, had accused the AAP government in Delhi of "serving biryani" to protesters at Shaheen Bagh.

Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena youth leader and Uddhav Thackeray's son, termed the Delhi elections as the victory of good governance. "Leaving aside electoral issues, one must work and fulfil promises. We must steer clear of the level of politics which was there in the Delhi elections. I congratulate Delhi for giving a decisive mandate fearlessly. I congratulate Arvind Kejriwal," he told ANI.

BJP leader Kapil Mishra had termed the anti-CAA protest sites in the national capital "mini-Pakistan" and said the assembly elections will be a contest "on Delhi roads between India and Pakistan".

In a series of provocative tweets, the BJP's candidate from Model Town who lost on Tuesday, said Pakistani rioters have taken over the streets of Delhi.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said Delhi Assembly poll results not surprising. I don't think BJP's series of defeat will stop soon. Delhi poll results indicate 'winds of change' blowing in the country.

BJP playing divisive politics,Kejriwal playing smart politics and what r we doing? Can we honestly say that weve done all 2 put our house in order? We r busy capturing Congress whereas other parties are capturing India. If we r 2 survive, time 2 come out of exalted echo chambers!: Congress leader Sharmistha Mukherjee tweeted.

"This triumph is historic, humongous and gigantic...to make it simple, it's is an OXFORD win", said a tweet. Earkier, the Minister of State for Finance, the BJP's Anurag Thakur, was seen leading a crowd with the slogan "Desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro saalon ko," a chant inciting listeners to shoot "traitors to the country", with an expletive thrown in.

Home Minister Amit Shah had polarised the campaign at a rally, saying that people should press the EVM button on 8 February with such anger that the protesters in Shaheen Bagh "feel the current".

"Your vote to BJP candidate will make Delhi and the country safe and prevent thousands of incidents like Shaheen Bagh," Shah said.

"We will introspect on the reasons for defeat," state party chief Manoj Tiwari said, accepting responsibility for the party's poor performance.

"We believe in Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. A lot of things are said during the election according to the environment.

But we have never wanted nor will we ever want that for 60 days a road is blocked. We were against that yesterday and we will it tomorrow," added Tiwari.

Cong knew how it would perform: Kamal Nath

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath said the Congress was aware of its performance in Delhi Assembly elections but the big claims by the BJP have turned out to be false.

"The Congress was already aware of its results in Delhi Assembly polls. However, I want to ask the BJP -- what happened to the BJP which was making big claims," Kamal Nath told reporters.

He also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the Central government works in Delhi and yet the Delhiites could not connect themselves with the party. "In recent times, neither PM Modi nor any Central minister talked about unemployment. They only talked about nationalism, Pakistan, and CAA," he said.

"On CAA, I want to ask the BJP whether India is going for any war or if refugees were entering the country. What was the need to pass the Citizenship Amendment Bill in the middle of the night," asked Nath. Senior Congress leader Sadhu Singh Dharamso who also serves as a cabinet minister in Punjab has claimed that Delhi assembly results are a defeat for the BJP and not for the Congress.

"We were zero earlier, are zero now, so it's a BJP defeat not ours", Dharamso said. It was reported that the Congress has lot deposit in 67 out of the 70 Delhi assembly constituency and notched its lowest ever vote share tally of 4.36 per cent.

AAP rebel Yogendra Yadav put out a tweet congratulating AAP for their landslide victory yet again in Delhi. "Congratulations @AamAadmiParty for a well deserved victory in the face of dirty tricks of the regime and a docile EC.

Congratulations to people of Delhi for defeating the most vitriolic campaign of communal hatred in recent times and stopping it from becoming a national template," he tweeted.

"The results of Delhi elections will send a message all over the country that farmers, poor and youth will vote for development and prosperity," Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav said .

"People have voted against the hatred politics of the BJP. The BJP is failing in its attempt to communalise politics," Akhilesh Yadav added.

Among the first to send a congratulatory message to Kejriwal was election analyst Prashant Kishor, whose team crafted the AAP campaign and had a share in the victory.

"Thank you Delhi for standing up to protect the soul of India!" tweeted Mr Kishor, who has made no secret of his differences with the BJP and his opinion on the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act, around which the BJP had built its campaign.

Janata maalik hai, says Nitish Kumar

Nitish Kumar, asked for a reaction to the AAP's mega victory, only said three words and walked off, hands folded over his head -- "Janata maalik hai (public is boss)". His terse comment may not be pleasing to ally BJP, defeated after a high-voltage campaign starring Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the party's top leaders.

Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal United (JDU) contested two seats of Delhi's 70 seats in alliance with the BJP but he campaigned in three seats.

BJP president JP Nadda said his party accepts the mandate given by the people of Delhi and it will play the role of a constructive opposition.

Congratulating Arvind Kejriwal and AAP for their victory in the Delhi assembly election, Nadda said in a series of tweets that the BJP hopes the AAP government will work for the overall development of the national capital.

He also expressed gratitude towards BJP workers, saying they worked day and night for the party's victory.

BJP MP from East Delhi, Gautam Gambhir said: "We accept the Delhi election results and congratulate Arvind Kejriwal and the people of Delhi. We tried our best but, probably, we could not convince the people of the state. I hope Delhi develops under the chief ministership of Arvind Kejriwal."

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Kejriwal for winning the assembly elections.

"My best wishes and congratulations to Mr Kejriwal and the AAP on winning the Delhi Assembly elections," Gandhi tweeted.

Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot Kejriwal over AAP victory in the assembly elections.

"Congratulations to @Arvindkejirwal and @AamAdmiParty for empathic victory #DelhiResults wish you the best for making Delhi better than it is. People have spoken. Democracy has strengthened. Hopefully, acrimony will end," Pilot, who is also the state Congress chief, tweeted.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee congratulated Kejriwal.

CM Banerjee also slammed the BJP for not doing enough for development and accused the party of "political vendetta."

"I have congratulated Arvind Kekriwal. People at present want roti (Food), kapda (clothes) and makan (house). The BJP lost in Maharashtra and Jharkhand. The trend is very clear.

They are doing vendetta politics." "BJP says garbage of lies. They use the money to spread rumors and propaganda. At present, important issues are unemployment and the economy. I am also sure that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be rejected by people.

These things do not work in elections. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti congratulated Kejriwal. "On behalf of Ms Mufti, I'd like to congratulate @ArvindKejriwal for his spectacular victory & especially Dilliwallahs for rejecting vitriolic divisive politics & voting on real issues instead," Mehbooba's daughter Iltija Mufti tweeted from her mother's handle on Tuesday.

Will AAP eye Bihar next? Pavan Verma gives a hint

There is already speculation gaining ground that the AAP would look to cast its net beyond the capital.

Kejriwal has previously tried his luck in Haryana, Punjab and Goa, and the next on the horizon could be Bihar, where elections are just eight months away. And he already has an admirer in the State in former JD(U) leader Pavan Varma, who was recently expelled from the party.

Although Varma insisted there had been no talks with AAP, he said he would decide on the role to play in Bihar politics in the time to come.

Varma also expressed respect for the AAP's good governance policies and appreciated their efforts for working on a secular mandate.

AAP Delhi chief Gopal Rai said the city gave votes to love and defeated hate.

He said in Hindi that "'Baat nikli hai toh dur talak jaigi' (We will go a long way)." Rai said this politics of change will not be just limited to the national capital. 'I congratulate @ArvindKejriwal and @AamAadmiParty for forming government yet again in Delhi, on a massive mandate,' DMK president M K Stalin tweeted.

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan Kejriwal for the ruling AAP's victory in the Assembly elections there, saying the voters have chosen "progressive politics."

The actor expressed confidence that Tamil Nadu will "follow suit next year," apparently hinting at the assembly polls due in the state in 2021.

"Congratulations @ArvindKejriwal Ji on winning Delhi again.

The righteous people of Delhi have embraced progressive politics and have shown the way by voting AAP to victory," the actor-politician said in a tweet.

Tamil Nadu "will follow suit next year," he said, adding "Lets march towards honesty and growth. #ReImagineThamizhNadu."

Kejriwal and Haasan are said to share close ties and the AAP supremo was present at the launch of the MNM in Madurai in 2018.