Brij Bhardwaj
While polling for Maharashtra and Jharkhand is over, battle lines are being drawn for the prestigious contest for the national capital, Delhi where elections are to take place in February when the term of present Assembly will be over. The national capital has a diverse pattern. . The BJP has won all the Lok Sabha Seats for the last two terms while the Aam Aadmi Party has captured the Delhi Assembly and Municipal Corporation.
This time, however, the battle for the Assembly is expected to be close. The AAP which was born out of Anna Hazare movement against corruption has been a dominant party in the Assembly for the last two terms. It has not only eliminated Congress which had ruled earlier but also reduced BJP to single digits. But this time things are expected to change and the fight will be close. AAP, which came to power on their commitment to check corruption and provide cheap electricity and water, finds its image tarnished by a liquor scandal, in which its top leaders including Chief Minister were arrested.
Its top leaders including former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Satynder Jain, Health Minister were arrested in connection with Liquor scam. The latest blow came on its own when the senior most Minister Ashok Gehlot resigned from the party and Ministership and joined BJP. Mr Gehlot, who was considered a close associate of Mr Kejriwal, had with him important portfolios like Finance and Transport. His resignation letter accused the Chief Minister of having failed to fulfil the promises made to the people of Delhi, like cleaning the Yamuna or giving them honest Government.
He accused the Chief Minister, who came with a promise of doing away with VIP culture, of spending lavishly in renovating the house for the Chief Minister by spending crores of rupees on furnishing and other fittings. Mr Gehlot, who was the Jat face of AAP and has been a Jat face of BJP has been replaced by another Jat leader but his loss will be felt. AAP has also lost many other leaders who have crossed over to join BJP. As a result, in the latest Mayor Election in Municipal Corporation it won by a margin of three votes as half as dozen members belonging to AAP chose to vote for the BJP candidate.
In coming elections, AAP will not only face a challenge from BJP but will also have to fight Congress which has been trying to revive itself and has started campaigning. In the Lok Sabha poll AAP and Congress were partners. The AAP has a good record in improving schools and hospitals, but it has not been able to check pollution. The Yamuna River has become more polluted. Delhi has become one of the most polluted cities in India.
Realising the challenge AAP leader Mr Kejriwal is going around the capital city seeking votes. The election this time may turn out to be a triangular fight. Both Congress and AAP will be fighting each other while BJP has its own turf. One thing is sure: it will be a close fight and AAP which rose as a dominant player in Delhi, but has to perform a miracle to retain its hold.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
