AAP showing marks start of honest politics: Kejriwal
New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) spectacular showing in the Delhi assembly elections marks the start of "honest politics" in India, party leader Arvind Kejriwal said Sunday.
"It is the start of honest politics which will spread in the whole nation," Kejriwal told the media after his party finished second in the 70-member house with 28 seats.
He congratulated the Bharatiya Janata Party and its chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan for coming on top with 31 seats - five short of a majority.
Kejriwal said he had no "personal enmity" with Sheila Dikshit. It was a fight of principles.
"We are against corruption and price rise... Ours is a historic win," he said.
The Congress, which had ruled Delhi since 1998, was routed. It won only eight seats.
Ramon Magsaysay award winner Kejriwal, who trounced Chief Minister Dikshit in New Delhi constituency, said the AAP had shown that people with integrity could take to electoral politics -- and win.
Earlier, Kejriwal addressed his supporters at the party office, just after he was declared winner from his constituency.
"This is not our victory, it is the people's victory," he said.
The AAP, he said, fought the elections with a budget of Rs.20 crore and collected the money from donors in a transparent manner.
"The moment we reached the target, we stopped collecting money. This has never happened anywhere in the world," he said.
Stating the AAP was ready to sit in the opposition, Kejriwal said: "We will never accept support from anyone."
He appealed to party legislators to work for the people in their constituencies.
"Our low profile candidates have defeated heavyweights of the Congress and the BJP. I want to congratulate them for their victory," he said.
Kejriwal was at the party office in Connaught Place area in central Delhi since morning.
While hundreds of AAP supporters packed the office, many more gathered outside to celebrate the results.
AAP supporters, mostly youths, greeted each other and sprayed coloured powder and danced to drum beats. They showered flower petals on the winners.