Brij Bhardwaj
Delhi is in the grip of a cold wave at present with the minimum temperature touching four degrees, but the political temperature is rising with political parties announcing the names of candidates for Delhi Assembly. Leaders of different political parties are hitting the streets to woo the voters. Unlike in the past, this time there is likely to be a triangular contest between the Aam Aadmi party, BJP and Congress. The AAP and Congress had an alliance in the Lok Sabha poll but the two constituents of INDIA block will be fighting each other for the Assembly.
The AAP which had won the last two elections for the Assembly with comfortable margin is facing anti incumbency of two terms and its image has been tarnished with its leaders, including former Chief Minister Kejriwal, being hauled up in a liquor scandal and lavish spending in redoing the Chief Minister residence. The AAP is fighting back by talking about its achievements like improvement in education and health sectors and supply of power and water at reasonable rates.
In addition, it is also promising to start giving poor women an allowance of Rs. 1,000 per month or more to help them in view of high prices following inflation. AAP is counting on its record of freebies to win the poll .BJP hopes to upset the AAP record is enthused by its showing in Haryana and Maharashtra in recent Assembly elections. It is also hoping that with Congress and AAP fighting each other it will be able to do better this time.
Many in the BJP are hoping that there will be an upsurge in favour of Congress and it will be able to attract many voters which otherwise would have gone to AAP. Both AAP and Congress cut each other as they have a common base. BJP hopes that Congress party which had performed badly in last Assembly poll by getting only four per cent poll will do better this time and thus reduce the difference of votes between AAP and BJP as was the case in Haryana and Maharashtra where independent candidates and regional parties helped BJP to win by working as spoilers.
The other disadvantage for AAP is that many of its senior leaders including Kailash Gehlot, a senior Minister who resigned and joined BJP. There has been a lot of resentment in AAP ranks when Atishi Mariena was made Chief Minister after Kejriwal decided to resign. In view of the uncertainty in the contest former Deputy Chief Minister of AAP Manish Sisodia has changed his constituency. In the last poll AAP won 72 seats while BJP got seven and Congress was unable to win any seat.
Another issue which is hitting headlines is the presence of illegal voters. BJP has been checking the list and have approached the election commission to delete the names of such voters. Delhi police is also active and is visiting areas where illegal voters stay and checking their identities. The AAP leaders on other hand allege that names of their supporters were being deleted by EC to help the BJP. They have sent representations to the commission against action of officials.
There is little doubt that the contest will be close as tempo picks up in days to come. . Congress party hopes to make a pitch on the basis of the record of former Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit who in her two terms laid stress on building infrastructure in Delhi by building roads, stadiums and providing amenities. It is alleged AAP has spent more on freebies and neglected infrastructure.
The Congress party in its first list of candidates released has put the name of Sandeep Dixit, son of Sheila Dixit to oppose former Chief Minister of Delhi Kejriwal who is contesting from the prestigious constituency of New Delhi.
It was a seat which was held by Dixit’s mother when she was Chief Minister before she was ousted by Kejriwal. So there is no love left between two members of INDIA block fighting each other.
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