Delhi Election 2025: Delhi has remained far away for BJP till now. For the first time since 1956, when Delhi Assembly elections were held in 1993, BJP won a landslide victory. Madan Lal Khurana became CM. Sahib Singh Verma and Sushma Swaraj became CM after Madan Lal Khurana during their 5-year tenure. But when elections were held in 1998, Congress government was formed. Sheila Dikshit became the CM and also became the CM in 2003 and 2008 by defeating BJP continuously.
…and Kejriwal became CM
In 2011, Anna Hazare sits on a fast unto death in Delhi demanding Jan Lokpal, which gets the support of people across the country. Arvind Kejriwal lives with Anna Hazare like a servant. Many types of allegations are made against the central government led by Congress. Sheila Sarkar is also surrounded by many types of allegations. On October 2, 2012, despite Anna Hazare’s refusal, Arvind Kejriwal forms a party and names it – Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
When assembly elections were held in 2013, AAP surprised everyone and won 28 seats with 29.70 percent votes. In 2008, Congress, which had won 43 seats with more than 40 percent vote share, was left with only 24.70 percent votes and could win only 8 seats. BJP’s vote share also came down to 33.2 percent as compared to 36.3 percent in 2008. It won 31 seats but missed the majority mark. Then Arvind Kejriwal, who had vowed not to form an alliance with the Congress at any cost and had called it the mother of corruption, formed the government with its help and became the Chief Minister. However, he resigned after only 49 days.
Kejriwal failed in Lok Sabha elections
Then in 2015, AAP got 54.5 percent votes and won 67 seats. Congress’s vote share came down to 9.7 and it could not win even a single seat. BJP could win only 3 seats even after getting 32.3 percent votes. In the 2020 assembly elections, AAP got 53.8 percent votes and won 62 seats. This time also BJP could win only 8 seats with 38.7 percent votes. Congress could not open its account this time too with 4.3 percent votes. However, in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP got 46.4% votes, Aam Aadmi Party got 32.9% votes and Congress got 15.1% votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, BJP got 56.8% votes, Aam Aadmi Party got 18.1% votes and Congress got 22.5% votes. Whereas in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJP got 54.35 percent votes, AAP got 24.71 percent and Congress got 18.91 percent votes.
But why so
Giving these figures means that in fact, BJP is assured of 32 percent vote share in Delhi. Who remains with BJP in any situation. However, it increases to 54-56 percent in Lok Sabha elections. That means 23-24 percent voters vote differently in Delhi’s Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. He goes with Kejriwal in the Assembly and with BJP in the Lok Sabha. But what is the reason for this? It is clear that the voters of Delhi have no objection to BJP. They are making Kejriwal win in Delhi because they feel that Kejriwal is more beneficial for them. So how is Kejriwal benefiting the people of Delhi?
Actually, Kejriwal has run the scheme of free electricity and water up to 200 units. Many people get direct benefits from this. Till now bus travel has been free for women. Due to this, voters from the poor section are inclined towards Kejriwal during the assembly elections. This time, due to the increasing influence of BJP, Kejriwal has promised to give Rs 2100 to all the women if the government is formed. Obviously, Kejriwal also knows that he is getting votes only because of these free schemes.
What is BJP doing?
Till now Kejriwal was popular among the middle class of Delhi because of his image of staunch honesty. BJP and Congress have dented this image to a great extent. After going to jail, the middle class is no longer in support of Kejriwal as it was earlier. The upper middle class is already angry with Kejriwal regarding issues ranging from Yumna to street cleaning, garbage heaps and air pollution. In such a situation, BJP knows that now it has to target only those poor voters who are voting for Kejriwal because of free schemes. That is why this time BJP has prepared to bring a more ‘generous’ manifesto than Kejriwal.
According to sources, BJP can make many big promises to the voters. The party can start a scheme for the women of Delhi like 300 units of free electricity, free water and Ladli Brahmin scheme. According to sources, BJP is also planning to provide up to 500 units of electricity at religious places like temples and Gurudwaras.
What is the strategy of Congress?
Before this, Congress has made a big announcement for women in Delhi. Recently Congress has announced Pyari Didi scheme for the women of Delhi. Under this scheme of Congress, if the government is formed, women will be given Rs 2500 every month. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was present at the announcement of Pyari Didi Scheme. On the announcement of the scheme, he had said that we will implement it on the same model which we had implemented in Karnataka. It is clear that this time Congress and BJP are preparing to defeat Kejriwal on his own pitch. Congress is especially keeping an eye on Muslim votes and it can make some special announcements for them in its manifesto. Obviously, Congress is also taking on Kejriwal this time with full preparation to settle its accounts of 2013. Because the original voters of the common man are of Congress only. If Congress can convince them that it is fighting to form the government, then this vote bank can come back.
When is voting in Delhi?
The Election Commission had announced the election dates on Tuesday. The tenure of Delhi Assembly is ending on 23 February. There are 70 assembly seats in Delhi, out of which 58 are for general category, while 12 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes. Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had told that the last date for filing nominations is January 17 and the scrutiny of nomination papers will be done till January 18. Candidates will be able to withdraw their nomination till January 20.
Read this also-
Will Manish Sisodia be able to win the battle of Jangpura? Who are the candidates of BJP and Congress?
Parvesh Verma’s house should be raided, he should be stopped from contesting elections: Kejriwal complains to EC
