From the time Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail on September 13 last year, his entire focus has been on fine-tuning an electoral strategy to take on the BJP juggernaut.
Although this is only an assembly election, Kejriwal knows he is pitted against none other than Prime Minister Modi, who is once again leading the BJP’s electoral campaign from the front. In recent elections in Haryana and Maharashtra, Modi adopted a relatively low profile. This is not the case in the capital. In his maiden electoral speech at the Parivartan Rally in Delhi on January 5, Modi described the AAP government as a “ten-year-long disaster,” urging the public to rid themselves of this perceived “aapda” (disaster).
The AAP is equally combative, pointing out how the BJP lacks a leader of stature to challenge Kejriwal, forcing them to rely on Modi as their tried-and-tested electoral icon. According to a recent C-Voter tracker, AAP is ahead of the BJP, with 45.4% of respondents favoring the jhadoo (broom) against 36% preferring the lotus.
Has AAP proved a disaster for Delhi’s people? This youthful party, led by a younger generation of straightforward leaders, has always irked Modi. Ever since Kejriwal contested against him in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Varanasi, Modi has developed what can only be described as a visceral dislike for this challenger.
Modi has worked to discredit AAP leaders, and the liquor scam provided his government the perfect opportunity. Key figures, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and party treasurer Satyendra Jain, were arrested. Kejriwal became the first sitting Chief Minister to be arrested post-independence.
Has this damaged AAP’s branding? There’s no doubt its credibility has suffered, and AAP can no longer claim to be a party with a difference.
For Kejriwal, the stakes are high. He knows that to maintain his position as a serious national player, he must win these elections. Contesting from the New Delhi constituency, he faces formidable rivals: Sandeep Dikshit, son of three-time Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit, and Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma.
Parvesh Verma recently made headlines for distributing money to women through his NGO, excluding those from Muslim and Punjabi communities. This anti-Punjabi stance is surprising, given that Punjabis form a significant vote bank in Delhi. For instance, in Chandni Chowk, Punjabis constitute 17% of the electorate, second only to Muslims at 20%.
Chandni Chowk underwent a Rs 100 crore facelift in 2021, pedestrianizing the bazaar. While beneficial for buyers, shopkeepers argue more attention should have been given to parking and senior citizen amenities.
Modi officially began the BJP campaign by handing over 1,675 flats to slum dwellers in Dwarka on January 4, costing them only 7% of the flats’ total price. He also inaugurated the World Trade Centre at Nauroji Nagar and residential accommodations at Sarojini Nagar. However, it remains unclear whether these efforts will sway voters.
Delhiites enjoy a higher standard of living than residents in most states, with amenities like free bus travel for women, free medical services in mohalla clinics, and upgraded government schools offering free education.
Another key battleground is Kalkaji, where three heavyweights clash. Congress leader Alka Lamba, BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri, and AAP’s incumbent MLA Atishi are in a fierce contest. Bidhuri drew criticism for his sexist remarks, comparing the smoothness of roads to Priyanka Gandhi’s cheeks and making disparaging comments about Atishi. The BJP leadership has since cautioned him.
Initially reluctant to contest from Kalkaji, Lamba wanted to stand in Chandni Chowk but eventually agreed to Kalkaji after discussions with Rahul Gandhi. The Congress, which has chosen to go solo, sees this election as a fight for survival. If it wins even a few seats, it could play kingmaker in a hung assembly.
However, failure to make gains could spell political irrelevance for the party in Delhi, compounding its losses in Haryana and Maharashtra.
The BJP is attempting to shift focus from AAP’s welfare schemes to controversies, such as Kejriwal’s expenditure on renovating the CM’s bungalow at Flagstaff Road. AAP, in turn, highlights Modi’s lavish spending on his Rs 2,700 crore Prime Minister’s residence, including carpets worth Rs 300 crore and chandeliers worth Rs. 200 crore.
Amid this mudslinging, critical issues like cleaning the Yamuna River and reducing air pollution—Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital—are sidelined.
The election is shaping up to be a high-stakes battle for Kejriwal, with his leadership, credibility, and future political relevance hanging in the balance.
Rashme Sehgal is an author and an independent journalist
