New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS): The contest between AAP candidate from Patparganj Manish Sisodia and BJP's Ravinder Singh Negi was nothing short of a thriller which Sisodia finally emerging victorious with a margin of 3,000 votes on Tuesday.

Sisodia, who is also Deputy Chief Minister, is seen as the key figure in Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's education and healthcare push in the national capital, was trailing after 10 rounds of counting earlier in the day.

His victory has silenced those who questioned his decision to declare support for the Shaheen Bagh protesters in the face of a polarizing campaign by the BJP.

Since morning, Sisodia sat silently at a counting booth in his assembly constituency calculating the results from different booths. However, post 11th round of counting, he kept on increasing the lead over his rival.

"It is the victory of education," said Sisodia after he was declared winner, waving to his supporters with the victory sign. As he came out of the counting centre, he enthusiastically stood atop a vehicle with the party flag and waved it.

Then along with party workers, he held a small road show in the area thanking the voters of Delhi.

The AAP, which had won 67 out of 70 seats in the 2015 assembly polls, pulled another historic victory in Delhi. According to the Election Commission, the AAP has already won five seats Aand is leading in 58 seats.

The BJP has so far won one seat and is leading in six others in the national capital.

The Congress has once again drawn a blank.