Delhi Elections 2024: A Clash of Manifestos and Promises
The upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on February 5th are shaping up to be a significant battle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both parties are aggressively unveiling their election manifestos, releasing poll promises in stages to garner support from the roughly 1.55 crore registered voters.
BJP's Sankalp Patra: Promises for Women and Youth
The BJP's Sankalp Patra, released in installments, has focused on key demographics. The first part, centered on women's welfare, promised financial aid of ₹21,000 and nutritional kits for pregnant women, along with ₹5,000 for the first child and ₹6,000 for the second. The Mahila Smriddhi Yojana, offering ₹2,500 monthly assistance to women, was also announced. BJP leader J.P. Nadda criticized AAP's unfulfilled promises of ₹1,000 monthly assistance to women.
The second part of the BJP's manifesto targeted youth and students, pledging free education from KG to PG in government institutions for needy students. Financial aid for competitive exam aspirants and scholarships for Scheduled Caste students were also included. The BJP also announced a special investigation team to probe alleged corruption under the AAP government.
AAP's Strategy: Freebies and Middle-Class Appeal
AAP, aiming to retain power after three consecutive wins, relies on its support base among disadvantaged sections and minorities, largely attributed to the freebies it offers. However, to make inroads into the middle class, a key BJP support base, AAP is now also focusing on their concerns. While this may not immediately change the dynamics, it is an attempt to test the waters and explore new avenues for securing votes.
BJP's Confidence and Concerns
Within the BJP, there are differing opinions on the election's outcome. Some believe AAP still holds an advantage in slum areas due to its freebie policies. However, others are confident that unfulfilled promises concerning piped water and alleged collusion with the tanker lobby could negatively affect AAP's image among voters. BJP candidates highlighted their party's outreach efforts in these areas, focusing on the work already undertaken, thereby minimizing concerns about the freebies offered by AAP.
Modi's Campaign and Assurances
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his campaign launch, assured Delhiites that AAP's freebies would continue under a BJP government. While this momentarily validated Kejriwal's policies, the BJP's extensive campaign efforts still pose a formidable challenge to AAP’s comeback hopes. Modi emphasized the AAP government's alleged failures in infrastructure development, contrasting it with the central government's investment in projects like the Delhi Metro.
Congress's Role and the BJP's Strategy
The BJP's success in limiting AAP's gains could depend on the Congress party's performance. The Congress is actively campaigning and has increased its attacks on the AAP government's corruption, using CAG reports. While the AAP and Congress previously collaborated, they have since parted ways. The BJP has deployed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for extensive campaigning in Delhi, further intensifying the electoral battle. Recent political analysis suggests the BJP is confident of improving its vote share from the previous Lok Sabha election, where it secured 54.3% of the votes.
Conclusion: A Close Contest
The Delhi Assembly elections promise to be a closely contested battle between the two major parties. Both AAP and BJP are using varied strategies to gain the edge, from targeted welfare schemes to highlighting their development agendas and addressing concerns of different voter demographics. The final outcome depends on factors such as the success of BJP's campaign in slum clusters, the impact of AAP's freebies, and the role played by the Congress party. The latest news updates and ongoing analysis from multiple sources are crucial to understanding the situation as it evolves.