BJP Persuaded Delhi Voters That Supporting AAP Was Pointless, According to Pavan K. Varma
In the recent Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP emerged as the clear winner, securing 48 seats compared to the AAP's 22. This nearly 2% difference, due to the first-past-the-post system, marked a significant hiatus in seats for the AAP.
The BJP's success can be attributed to a strategic move, which included the announcement of the Eighth Pay Commission and Union Budget sops to the middle class, just a few days before voting. This strategy seemed to have swayed voters in the capital, propelling the BJP to victory.
However, the road to victory was not without its challenges for the BJP. The party has not had its own chief minister in Delhi for 26 years, with Sushma Swaraj being the last one in 1998 for 52 days. The AAP, on the other hand, had a dominant presence in Delhi politics, winning 67 out of 70 seats in the 2015 Assembly elections.
The AAP government in Delhi faces significant challenges in implementing its promises. The lieutenant governor, appointed by the Centre, holds substantial powers, and the AAP does not have control over bureaucrats serving under it. This has led to unending hurdles in implementing its promises.
The AAP's hegemony in Delhi was expected to face a severe challenge in the 2020 elections due to the BJP's determination to take control. The Union home ministry placed vital powers of services under the control of the LG by an executive order in May 2015, stripping the elected chief minister of control over the appointment, transfers, and postings of officers reporting to him.
The BJP's success also highlighted the challenges faced by the Opposition. This election, like many before, showed that the BJP is the luckiest party in recent democratic history due to the abysmal quality of its Opposition. Political opponents often seem more focused on internal conflicts than on uniting against the BJP.
The Congress, a key player in the Opposition alliance, demonstrated its weakness in the Delhi elections. The party did not join hands with the AAP in Haryana and fought against AAP in Delhi. This decision seemed to have a significant impact, as the Congress did not win a single seat in the 2023 Delhi Assembly elections and hived off 6.34% of the vote, which could have potentially gone against the BJP.
The AAP still has sizeable support in Delhi, especially among those below the middle class. In the 2023 elections, the party received a vote percentage of 43.7%, although a steep drop from the 53.57% in 2020. Questions have been raised about the commitment of AAP's leader, Mr. Kejriwal, due to his alleged involvement in the liquor scam and the "sheesh mahal" he built for himself.
Sheila Dikshit, a former CM of Delhi from the Congress Party, served from 1998 to 2013. The Congress's role in the Delhi elections has been a topic of discussion, with many pointing out the party's failure to unite with the AAP and challenge the BJP's dominance in the capital.
The Delhi elections have once again highlighted the complexities of Indian politics, with the BJP's victory coming at a cost for the AAP and the Opposition's continued struggle to present a unified front against the ruling party.
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