Surge plus spoiler: In prestige fight, a killer combination

For three decades, New Delhi constituency served as Delhi politics' truest weather-vane — its winner inevitably becoming chief minister.

- Paras Singh

NEW DELHI: On Saturday, this seat that spans the Capital's stark extremes — from the Presidential Estate to Pillanji village's cramped lanes delivered its most dramatic verdict yet, as BJP's Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma defeated former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal by 4,089 votes.

The loss proved particularly poignant in a constituency that had birthed Kejriwal's political career in 2013, when he defeated three-term chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

Adding a layer of historical irony, Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit — Sheila Dikshit's son — secured 4,568 votes, more than the margin of Kejriwal's defeat.

The day's counting mirrored the constituency's reputation for high drama. Across 14 rounds, Kejriwal's fortunes swung wildly — trailing initially, securing a narrow 254-vote lead by 10am, before Verma pulled ahead after the sixth round and steadily widened the gap.