Making Delhi More Livable

I am writing this article after all the poll pundits have finished their analysis and the dust has settled over Delhi elections. Delhi elections which were fought under a rancid rancor campaign have a lesson or two for all the parties. It was an important election for the Aam Aadmi Party after its losses in Punjab elections, Delhi Municipality elections and Lok Sabha elections. At the same time, it was an opportunity for BJP to test whether its decisions have gone down well with the people of the country.

In India it is often believed people don’t cast their votes but vote their castes. However, Delhi elections are different from elections in other states. Agenda for this year’s Delhi elections was different from elections in other states. I have tried to analyze some of the reasons which led to AAP winning Delhi elections.

Some of the news anchors started dancing in their studios as AAP started winning the elections whereas others blamed Delhities for the penchant for freebies and voting only for freebies keeping national interests aside but I will not be so partisan in my article. I have tried to analyze the reasons which led to AAP scoring a massive victory despite whole hog efforts by the ruling party.

First of all, let us get our facts clear, Delhi elections were fought on local issues of electricity and water by AAP whereas BJP wanted to fight on national issues. This contest was not Modi versus Kejriwal rather it was Kejriwal versus who, whether it was Kejriwal versus local BJP leadership or was it against BJP’s central leadership.

There is no denying the fact that if Loksabha elections are held today, BJP might sweep all seven seats again because of the sheer popularity of BJP’s central leadership lead by our honorable Prime Minister Modi but Indian voter has become smarter, they know how to differentiate between central and state elections. For state of Delhi people are satisfied with the kind of work done by Kejriwal Government. In a country gripped with poverty and unemployment getting zero electricity bills is a God sent respite which every Dilliwalah readily lapped up. I talked to many people in Delhi and as I am myself from Delhi, I know how Delhites feel especially when their electricity and water bills actually came as zilch.

Another interesting fact in Delhi elections was the sheer number of women voters who voted and most of the women voted in favor of AAP. They also got their share of benefits like free ride in Delhi buses and most importantly they could keep their household budgets in check with reduced power and water bills.

I was reading the statistics of people who voted for AAP and vote share of AAP has increased from 18% in union elections to over 53% in state elections because people clearly identified with the local issues and these elections once again proved that AK-62 is a very smart politician. He stopped ranting against Mr. Modi, did not make any personal attacks for he was aware that Modi is the most popular leader and his antipathy towards Modi will not fetch him votes.

There is another important aspect where the difference is clearly discernible is that whereas AAP MLAs come in their own car and talk to people on ground rather literally sit with people on ground whereas politicians from other parties come in their swanky cars and consider themselves from upper echelons vis-à-vis their voters. These days’ people expect their politicians to sit along with them and solve their issues and not consider themselves as belonging to elite class. This is what we have observed with most of the BJP politicians. Our AAP candidate Sh. Raghuvinder Shokeen conducted meetings with RWAs and tried to resolve the issues. He got swings installed, camera fitted and gates refurbished which captured the voter’s imagination.

Also, this Government has given some dignity to students from Government school. It has made them feel that they are important and they also can scale the same heights that their peers from private schools can. Mohalla clinics have also given much needed relief from overcrowded hospitals in Delhi which do not serve any purpose.

Impact of BJP’s focus on Shaheen Bagh protests

All the opinion polls in early January had indicated that AAP would sweep the elections and BJP would get between 25 and 35% votes. By choosing to attack AAP over the Shaheen Bagh protest and repeatedly raising the issue of the blockade of Kalindi Kunj road, the BJP did manage to strike a chord with a section of the electorate. This reflected in its higher vote share as well but labelling the chief minister as terrorist boomeranged as well as people did not like their chief minister to be labelled as terrorist.

India Versus Pakistan Battle

Some of the politicians raised a feverish pitch and the election was reduced to a fracas wherein some seasoned politicians said that it is India versus Pakistan and if AAP wins it shall tantamount to win of Pakistan. Such vitriolic campaign and rancid discourse did not cut much ice with the people in general.

Who Voted for AAP and who for BJP:

In David versus Goliath battle slum dwellers voted for AAP, Punjabi middle class mainly voted for AAP whereas states adjoining the bordering areas of Haryana and UP voted for BJP especially the jaats, the gujjars the baniya community mainly voted for BJP. BJP also maintained its traditional vote bank.

Now that finally elections are over its time to get back to work for AAP Government and fulfill the promises it has made to make Delhi more livable by reducing the pollution levels, working on rain water harvesting, involving RWAs and making the city safer for women.

For a better Delhi is what we voted for and let it be the best city in the world. For Naysayers it’s time to get their act together for they have another five years.

Pic Credits : Google Images

Disclaimer : It is just an analysis not to a Political statement in favor or against any party.