The ruling Aam Aadmi Party will be facing a litmus test in Feb 2025, wherein it faces a tough fight from the BJP, who are ready to come out with their guns blazing to dethrone the AAP and start a new chapter in the politics of Delhi.
The Delhi Assembly Elections, which saw the AAP gaining a simple majority in the last 2 elections in the years 2015 & 2020, can find themselves in an embarrassing position this time with not only the BJP fighting the polls by banking on various issues but also the Congress, who have announced candidates against AAP in all constituencies without any alliance. While Congress may not be a political force to reckon with because of its existential crisis in the capital after they were ousted from power since 2013, it is the BJP that can emerge as a game changer if their political binary favors them in constituencies where they have a strong support base. The question that arises is can AAP bank on Kejriwal’s promise of free electricity, free bus travel for women, 24/7 water supply, and free treatment for senior citizens to win the election, or will it be BJP that will emerge victorious by flagging issues of anti-incumbency, corruption cases, and rising pollution?
The answer to this question is simple yet complicated because in the last assembly elections, we have observed that AAP has a strong support base among people from the underprivileged sections, mostly the auto drivers and working-class laborers who are benefited the most with the benefits of free electricity and financial incentives, with the latest being the life insurance policy worth Rs 10 lakh and accident insurance worth Rs 5 lakh, a sum of Rs 1 lakh for their daughters' weddings, and Rs 2,500 twice a year to buy uniforms, which will be provided if AAP is voted to power once again. Besides, AAP has made tremendous efforts towards improving the conditions of Govt schools by investing funds to support higher education among children & youths.
From announcing the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana that promises a monthly allowance of ₹2100 for women in the age bracket of 18-60 to Sanjeevani Yojana meant to provide free treatment to senior citizens of age 60 and above in private & govt hospitals, along with the Dr. Ambedkar scholarship scheme that aims to support Dalit students to pursue foreign education, AAP can expect a major comeback with the people's support with these schemes after their reputation and outreach plummeted with the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal due to Delhi Excise Policy Scam by the CBI & ED & other Ministers like Manish Sisodia.
However, the BJP, who have emerged as winners in every parliamentary election since 2014, may find themselves in a position to corner the AAP Govt after a long state at the state level on issues like rising pollution, whereby they have blamed the current regime for their neglect towards curbing pollution by allowing the sale and use of firecrackers and blaming the BJP-ruled states of UP & Haryana for the same. Moreover, the corruption charges that were framed against Kejriwal, which led to his resignation from the post of CM, can be used by the BJP to send a message to the voters that voting for the BJP would mean driving away the corrupt Netas and their practices away from the society with a decisive focus on carrying forwards with the goals of Vikshit Bharat and Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas.
Lastly, the incidents involving illegal Bangladeshis & Rohingyas residing in various pockets of the city have been flagged by the BJP as a major source of concern for the Delhiites because the party feels that the AAP has failed to locate, track, and safely deport the illegal migrants back to the source of origin who have procured voter & Aadhar cards through illicit means, with the BJP claiming that they are being used as a vote bank for AAP to win elections.
Meanwhile the BJP is yet to announce candidates as well as the chief ministerial face for the upcoming elections; it is difficult to say how the party can battle all odds to prevent AAP from achieving an absolute majority. Although the dates are awaited, the battleground in the National Capital is all set to witness a triangular contest to decide who will be the next CM of Delhi in 2025.
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