After poll loss, Kapil Mishra says will work harder

New Delhi, Feb 11 (SocialNews.XYZ) Once the blue-eyed boy of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal but who later turned a rebel, Kapil Mishra on Tuesday seemed undeterred by the poll reverse earlier in the day and promised to work even harder for political success.

"Election results are adverse today; tomorrow, it will be favourable. Will work harder. But do not be under any misconception that this result will change my views on CAA or Shaheen Bagh," Mishra tweeted in response to ridicule by a journalist at his loss to sitting AAP MLA Akhilesh Pati Tripathi, who got a hat-trick win from the Model Town seat.

Mishra won the 2015 Assembly elections on an AAP ticket from Karawal Nagar, following which he was made Water Resources Minister. But he was unceremoniously dumped from the Cabinet, following which he accused Kejriwal and cabinet colleague Satyendra Jain of corruption. The 39-year-old former minister even lodged a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

In 2016, Kapil Mishra, who was still with the AAP, took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, comparing him to an ISI agent. "The one whose story of a tea shop is fake, marriage story is fake, electoral assurances are fake, educational degree is fake... his bhakts (followers) are putting out fake posts to comfort themselves," Mishra had tweeted.

Cut to November 2018 when he launched a campaign 'My PM, My Pride' to fight the "negative campaign" against Modi on social media. Those who have stayed with Mishra through the transition period insist the unthinkable metamorphosis happened due to his belief that an "enemy's enemy is a friend".

"Mishra felt humiliated in the AAP and by Kejriwal. He wanted him humiliated. And Mishra knew no one better than the BJP can provide him with that platform," a source pointed out.

Mishra even campaigned against the AAP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, following which he was disqualified as a legislator in August. There were rumours Mishra would be given the East Delhi ticket in the 2019 general election, which Mishra denied. But then came his formally joining the BJP. Come the Delhi polls and he figured in the very first BJP candidates' list, which showed the trust he had earned in the BJP within a very short time.

Even after his defeat in the Model Town constituency, Mishra assured he will continue to work for the constituency, a la Smriti Irani who refused to let go of Amethi even after her loss to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the 2014 general elections. And she pulled off a win against Gandhi in the 2019 elections.

But will Mishra pull off such a victory in the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections? One would prefer to keep fingers crossed.

Source: IANS