Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared victory on Saturday, stating that “development had won” as his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regained control of Delhi’s local legislature after 27 years.

“Development and good governance have triumphed,” Modi said after the city’s former chief minister, a prominent opposition figure, conceded defeat.

While the BJP governs at the national level, it had not held power in Delhi’s local assembly since 1998, making this win both symbolic and strategically significant.

“We will spare no effort in ensuring Delhi’s overall development and improving the lives of its residents,” Modi stated on social media.

Arvind Kejriwal lost his seat to BJP, as per election commission results, marking a significant setback for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had ruled the city of over 30 million people for most of the last decade.

“We accept the people’s verdict and congratulate the BJP,” Kejriwal said in a video message.

BJP supporters gathered outside the party’s headquarters in New Delhi, celebrating with chants, dancing, and waving flags and posters of Modi as results from Wednesday’s election were counted.

With counting still underway, the BJP had already secured a comfortable majority, winning around two-thirds of the 70-seat assembly, according to the election commission.

“Our victory reflects the people’s trust in Prime Minister Modi’s vision for progress,” said Interior Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah.

“The Delhi mandate proves that people cannot be misled by falsehoods every time,” he added.