The Battle for Delhi:
The Delhi Assembly elections have turned into a fierce contest between Arvind Kejriwal and Narendra Modi, with the stakes high for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Since his release from Tihar Jail on September 13, Kejriwal has been focusing intensely on strategizing against the BJP, led by Prime Minister Modi.
Though an assembly election, this contest has national significance, as Modi himself has taken the lead in the BJP campaign. At the Parivartan Rally on January 5, Modi described the AAP government’s tenure as a “ten-year-long disaster,” urging voters to end the so-called “aapda” (disaster).
AAP has responded with equal vigor, pointing to the BJP’s reliance on Modi as their primary electoral icon and criticizing their inability to field a strong local leader against Kejriwal. According to a C-Voter tracker, AAP leads the BJP, with 45.4% favoring the jhadoo (broom) against 36% for the lotus.
Modi vs. Kejriwal: The Rivalry Deepens
The animosity between Modi and Kejriwal dates back to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections when Kejriwal contested against Modi in Varanasi. Since then, Modi has consistently worked to undermine AAP’s leadership. The alleged liquor scam, which led to the arrest of key AAP leaders, including Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and party treasurer Satyendra Jain, was a significant blow. Kejriwal himself became the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested post-independence, denting AAP’s credibility as a party with a difference.
For Kejriwal, these elections are critical. Winning is essential to maintaining his national political relevance. Contesting from the New Delhi constituency, he faces tough opponents like Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit and BJP’s Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma.
Controversial Campaign Strategies
Parvesh Verma has drawn criticism for distributing money to women via his NGO while excluding Muslim and Punjabi communities. This exclusion is surprising given Punjabis form a significant vote bank in Delhi, particularly in constituencies like Chandni Chowk, where they represent 17% of the electorate.
Meanwhile, Modi launched the BJP’s campaign by distributing 1,675 flats to slum dwellers in Dwarka and inaugurating major infrastructure projects like the World Trade Centre in Nauroji Nagar. While these efforts aim to attract voters, their effectiveness remains uncertain.
Welfare vs. Controversies
AAP continues to campaign on its track record of welfare schemes, including free bus rides for women, mohalla clinics offering free healthcare, and improved government schools providing free education. In contrast, the BJP has sought to shift focus to controversies, such as Kejriwal’s renovation of his CM residence, while AAP has countered by highlighting the lavish spending on Modi’s Rs. 2,700 crore Prime Minister’s residence.
Key Battlegrounds:
In Kalkaji, a fierce three-way contest is underway between Congress leader Alka Lamba, BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri, and AAP’s incumbent Atishi. Bidhuri has faced backlash for sexist remarks about Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Atishi, while Lamba, initially reluctant to contest from Kalkaji, sees this election as critical for the Congress’s survival in Delhi.
The Congress, contesting solo, hopes to secure enough seats to play kingmaker in a hung assembly. However, failure to perform could push the party further toward irrelevance in Delhi, compounding recent losses in Haryana and Maharashtra.
The Bigger Picture:
Amidst mudslinging, critical issues like cleaning the Yamuna River and reducing air pollution—Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital—have been sidelined.
This election is more than just a local contest; it’s a test of Kejriwal’s leadership and AAP’s survival as a credible alternative in Indian politics. For Modi, it’s about reinforcing BJP’s dominance, even in a state where they’ve struggled to unseat Kejriwal in the past. As Delhi heads to the polls, the stakes couldn’t be higher for either side.
Author: This news is edited by: Abhishek Verma, (Editor, CANON TIMES)
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