New Delhi (09.02.2025): The Bharatiya Janata Party has managed to win Delhi Assembly elections after a long gap of 27 years with the best ever performance of the party in Delhi by winning 48 seats out of 70. AAP won 22 seats and the Congress settled for nought. There are a set of factors that led to the debacle of the AAP and handsome victory of the BJP which would also have a far-reaching political implication.
The RSS factor in Delhi:
The BJP and RSS devised a new strategy for Delhi in which the saffron outfits organised eighty thousand to one lakh drawing room meetings with participation of 5 to 25 persons in each meeting. This helped the BJP to reach out to voters in a better way especially Poorvanchali voters.
Man-to-man marking of senior AAP leaders:
This has crippled senior leaders of the opposition parties to visit many constituencies and wherever they were going, they were facing outrage and protest. Kejriwal was unable to move around as freely as in previous elections.
Kejriwal, a cry-baby in politics:
For Kejriwal, there was nothing to say except helplessness to deal with the Centre and Modi-Shah. A section was fed up to listen to all his complaint and started saying among themselves that if he is so helpless then why not choose the party that is making Kejriwal helpless.
Strategic though, shameful remark on Priyanka activated Congress:
The Congress workers were in a dormant stage but Ramesh Bidhuri’s controversial statement on Priyanka Gandhi activated them which is reflecting in the increased number of vote percentage and proportionate loss of AAP.
BJP’s benefit beyond Delhi win?
The perception about the BJP will improve after winning Delhi Assembly elections which was getting a beating after losing five elections – three to the Congress and two to the AAP. One election was the mixed mandate. The blot on Modi-Shah has also gone as Kejriwal was often challenging Modi on Delhi polls.
Congress' successful strategy helped BJP?
The Congress failed to get any seat but its decision to target AAP in Delhi by coming out of the mindset that let AAP win Delhi election but the BJP must be defeated. The Congress keeping the BJP and AAP on same pedestal would help the party in the future to claim the lost vote for revival.
Congress touched rock bottom:
The Congress Party has touched the rock bottom of Delhi. There was nothing to lose more. How it would revive? Party needs introspection as this was the third humiliating defeat of the Congress after an apparent victory of the Congress in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Haryana is poisoning Yamuna water:
The last nail in the coffin has been accusation on Haryana people for poisoning Yamuna water. This has not gone down well with the people especially areas sharing borders with Haryana.
Will Kejriwal be able to intact AAP?
After losing his own seat, the biggest challenge for him is to keep his folks together. Will he be able to do so and continue with his political expansion plans. He may turn his focus towards Bhagwant Mann for various issues including publicity expenditure which Punjab may not be able to do given its economic condition.
Will double engine transform Delhi?
Having an absolute majority in Delhi coupled with complete power at Centre, Modi-Shah has an open canvas to transform Delhi. If they would succeed it will add to their credentials else it may prove counter-productive as well.
(By Rakesh Ranjan)
