BJP’s localised campaign, PM Modi’s ‘AAP-da’ blitzkrieg end party’s long drought in Delhi
NEW DELHI, Feb 8: The BJP’s hyper-localised campaign targeting the AAP’s loyal base among the poor with its welfare promises and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s depiction of Delhi’s ruling party as AAP-da seemed to have connected big time with the city’s voters, ending the party’s drought of more than 26 years in the national capital.
The BJP’s decimation of a plucky and ambitious opposition satrap in Arvind Kejriwal, who has led the Aam Aadmi Party to the status of a national party, in his bastion is a hammer blow to the already disjointed INDIA bloc, which has suffered a string of reverses following its spirited performance in the Lok Sabha polls.
The BJP’s usual all-decks-on-hand approach strengthened the voice for change in Delhi on the ground, which had become fertile for it due to the declining stock of AAP convener Kejriwal amid charges of corruption and that he betrayed the ideals he once espoused, embodied by the alleged ‘Sheeshmahal’ scandal.
Several BJP leaders tasked with spearheading the party’s campaign in different parts of the national capital said their intensive campaign in the 2020 had come unstuck as voters associated the AAP’s first five years of government with its perceived successes in education and health sectors, and welfare policies like free bus ride for women and free electricity.
Then there were also no serious charges of corruption against the government, which was not the case now, they said, adding that the Delhi’s ruling party had little to showcase for its success in the second term.
BJP leaders said there was a wider acknowledgement among people this time that the last five years were marked by a overall decline in the city’s water supply, quality of roads, garbage collection and air pollution.
A big section of voters, especially the middle class, who are sensitive to the issues affecting their quality of lives, were firmly behind the BJP, while its welfare promises and assertion to continue with the existing such measures won over a sizeable chunk of poor voters, they added.
A BJP leader cited Modi’s coinage of the term AAP-da (disaster) in his first political rally for the polls on January 3 to slam the AAP as the moment when the party started gaining over its rival in the perception battle.
BJP leaders recalled that Home Minister Amit Shah, involved deeply with the nuts and bolts of the party’s campaign, spoke in details in one of the early strategy meeting about the mis-governance of the AAP government, and said all the BJP workers have to do is to connect with voters and persuade them to opt for a change.
That even Kejriwal and his close associate Manish Sisodia lost their seats is an indication of the voters’ overall disappointment with the party.
AAP’s voters are overwhelmingly made up of people having no ideological affinity for the party but who are beneficiaries of its welfare schemes, they added.
With the BJP’s manifesto going one up on the AAP’s welfare plank, the saffron party deployed its over 25 senior leaders, including Union ministers, making them each in charge of a couple of constituencies.
In the last three days of the campaign, the BJP marshalled over 300 MPs belong to the ruling alliance to focus on specific wards and booths.
Buzz over BJP’s CM pick intensifies
The buzz over BJP’s chief ministerial pick intensified on Saturday after the party made a grand return to power in Delhi. Pravesh Verma’s political currency skyrocketed with his stupendous victory over AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, positing him as a potential claimant to the top post in the upcoming BJP government.
The BJP winners also included several experienced senior leaders who are also in the race for the chief minister’s post which include Ashish Sood and former state general secretary (organisation) Pawan Sharma,” a top BJP functionary in Delhi said.
Sharma, who won from Uttam Nagar is also a frontrunner for the chief
Other serious contenders to the top post include former Delhi BJP presidents Vijender Gupta and Satish Upadhyay. (PTI)