AAP won 20 seats in Punjab and nil in Goa.
The mood was sombre and some Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were even apprehensive of going all the way to campaign in other states for in future elections. As the state assembly elections results trickled out on Saturday, for AAP and its volunteers gathered at Punjabi Colony in GTB Nagar to "celebrate", the results were well short of expectations.
The Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led party had expected a clear majority in Punjab, hoping to touch up to a 70-80 seat mark in the state while being a crucial player in Goa with double-digits figures. By 9:30 - 10:00 am, however, the mood changed with disappointment thick in the air - the leads and feedback gave a clear indication that the party was nowhere close to where it thought it would be. The party eventually got 20 seats in Punjab and zero in Goa.
"The results are certainly not what we expected. We will go back to the drawing board," Satish Jain said as results were clearly opposite to the banner the party had put up in anticipation of a win. Unfurled on the way leading to the party's office, the banner read, "AAP salutes all those who made victory possible in Punjab and Goa. Thank you", Kejriwal portrayed on it with folded hands.
That the party was third in the lead in Punjab was a bigger revelation. The party, however, took the loss in its stride and put up a brave face. As the results became clearer in Punjab and party hopped to the second position, it took heart from the loss and asked volunteers to celebrate whatever it had won.
"Satta mili nahi wapas maidan main utarna hai. (We did not get power, it is time to get on to the ground. We started from zero, it is time for celebrations," said one volunteer who asking people gathered in the room to come and celebrate emerging as the number two party in Punjab and leaving behind their apprehensions of not going to other states.
"We have nothing to loose. For us, even this is victory. At the end, we are a four-year-old party with no base to start with. Parties like MNS do not have such presence even after years. We are ruling in one state and are the Opposition in another. The Congress seems to have gained ground towards the end," said Narpat Devasi, resident of Cotton Green who had been to Punjab to campaign.
"We have fought till now and will continue to fight. This result may not be as per our expectations but we will continue to fight. We are working for people," said Vinod Gupta, an AAP volunteer from Dombivali. The party has now turned its sight to the fight in New Delhi and Gujarat elections.
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