A repeat of the Delhi elections is in sight. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is relying on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to carry the day once again. Modi had proved in Haryana and Maharashtra that his personal charisma could win over faction-ridden local parties and galvanize the aspiring youth. In Delhi, however, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal offers a formidable challenge for being very prominent in state politics. He has the social media strongly backing him and his strategy of dharnas had proved extremely effective in the past. The AAP made a fragile alliance with the Congress and stayed in office for only 49 days. Resignation from office impaired the party’s hold on the middle classes. But its campaign against corruption and cheaper electricity during its brief tenure still appeals to the lower income groups and slum dwellers in Delhi. The BJP’s manifesto is based on Narendra Modi’s commitment to development and the contention that development is accelerated if the ruling party at the Centre also rules in Delhi. The Congress which was on top for years under Sheila Dikshit is now an attenuated body in Delhi. Sheila Dikshit’s contribution to the growth of the modern metropolis is now all but forgotten.
While Delhi got its flyovers from Dikhsit, safety of women was badly neglected during her tenure. The capital city presents a picture of contrasts with VIPs living with the abysmally poor. Migration has led to the proliferation of sprawling slums. Delhi needs urban renewal beyond the glittering high spots. The ensuing battle will be between Modi’s promise of development and Kejriwal’s populism. The Delhi electorate deserves the installation of a stable and efficient government.
