New Delhi:
Bharatiya Janata Party has been away from power in Delhi for the last 26 years. In Delhi, first Congress ruled for 15 years and now Aam Aadmi Party ruled for 10 years. However, during this period one thing has remained that Bharatiya Janata Party has always remained at number two. There has also been no major decline in the vote share of BJP. The effect of poor performance in assembly elections is not visible in Lok Sabha elections. In the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Bharatiya Janata Party won all the seats. During this, BJP candidates got lead in 52 seats out of 70 assembly seats.
BJP has been winning all the Lok Sabha seats of Delhi for the last three elections. Despite being in power continuously, Aam Aadmi Party has never won any Lok Sabha seat in Delhi. Let us know what are the reasons behind this and why Bharatiya Janata Party lags behind in the assembly elections. But BJP’s dominance continues in the Lok Sabha elections. First, understand the seat wise mathematics in the Assembly and Lok Sabha and see how AAP, which was badly defeated in the Lok Sabha elections, has been performing charismatically in the Assembly elections…
| 2014 Lok Sabha elections (Assembly seat wise lead in Delhi) | |
| BJP | AAP |
| 60 | 10 |
| 2015 Delhi Assembly election results | |
| BJP | AAP |
| 3 | 67 |
| 2019 Lok Sabha elections (Assembly seat wise lead in Delhi) | |
| BJP | AAP |
| 65 | , |
| 2020 Delhi Assembly Election Results | |
| BJP | AAP |
| 8 | 62 |
| 2024 Lok Sabha Elections (Assembly seat wise lead in Delhi) | |
| BJP | AAP |
| 52 | 10 |
local vs national issues
Voters have been voting with different thinking in Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections. Lok Sabha elections are based on national issues, where the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the policies of the central government play an important role. BJP’s strong campaign and the influence of brand Modi prove to be helpful in this.
Assembly elections are based on local issues (like electricity, water, education, health). Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s grip at the grassroots level in Delhi and their focus on local issues has always been a challenge for BJP. BJP has not been able to find a solution to this till now.
Like the face of PM Modi, Kejriwal is also popular in Delhi.
Arvind Kejriwal’s personal charisma and slogan of “politics of work” make him extremely popular among the voters of Delhi. Under his leadership, AAP has launched schemes keeping local needs at the center, which directly benefit the public. BJP does not have any local leader in Delhi who can compete with Kejriwal. In the Lok Sabha elections, people vote for BJP in the name of PM Modi, whereas in the Assembly elections, the lack of a strong leader is seen in BJP.
Model of “mini-welfare state”
Congress vote bank swinging towards AAP
In the assembly elections in Delhi, Aam Aadmi Party has been getting full support from the minority vote bank. There has been a rapid decline in the vote bank of the Congress Party. Congress’s vote percentage has been decreasing in every election. The performance of Congress has been better in the Lok Sabha elections but in the Assembly elections the Congress voters shift towards AAP.
free plans made you stronger
AAP’s schemes like “free electricity, water, and free travel in buses for women safety” have created a huge vote bank. BJP has not been able to give any concrete alternative strategy to counter these schemes. Just before the elections, BJP also makes announcements on the model of the common man, which is sending a wrong message to the public.
BJP lacks leadership is an important factor
BJP often depends on central leaders and national star campaigners in Delhi elections. Although these leaders draw crowds in public meetings, they do not have a strong strategy like AAP at the local level. Even at the organizational level, BJP has been weaker than Aam Aadmi Party. BJP does not have any face at the local level who can directly challenge Arvind Kejriwal.
AAP’s dent in BJP’s voters
In comparison to Lok Sabha elections, Delhi voters shift towards AAP in Assembly elections. BJP’s traditional vote base is generally the urban Hindu middle class and upper class. But this class is not very large in Delhi elections, especially compared to the lower income groups and minorities. Mohalla clinics, improvements in government schools, and electricity-water schemes have created an image that AAP is a “working government”. BJP lags behind in creating such a grassroots network.
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