Rural support, Budget tax incentives & divided Opposition help BJP break Delhi jinx
A divided opposition, the shifting loyalty of AAP’s core middle-class vote bank following the Union Budget, anti-incumbency against AAP, and the unexpected last-minute support of Delhi’s rural belt emerged as the decisive factors behind the BJP’s resounding victory in the Delhi Assembly elections. The BJP secured 48 of the 70 seats, ending its 27-year-long dry spell in the capital.
From strategic campaigning to addressing middle-class concerns through pre-poll sops, the BJP quadrupled its vote share in these elections. However, the support of Delhi’s rural population and the impact of the Budget are being hailed as the crucial factors that tipped the scales in favour of the BJP.
Just a week before the polling day, several village leaders met Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss key rural issues, including Delhi’s Master Plan 2041, house tax exemptions, village boundary expansion, revision of the land pooling policy, and smart village development.
The very next day, representatives from all of Delhi’s villages declared their support for the BJP, citing dissatisfaction with Arvind Kejriwal’s governance in rural areas.
Delhi’s 360 villages, which have historically received minimal attention compared to urban areas, played a pivotal role in the election. Of the 70 Assembly seats, nearly 28 have significant rural populations. The BJP won most of these seats, with AAP managing to secure only a couple.
“The Kejriwal government has deceived us time and again. They made big promises but failed to deliver. This time, we decided to support the BJP,” said Surendra Solanki, president of Palam-360, a prominent khap body representing Delhi’s villages.
Rural votes have always been a decisive factor in Delhi’s elections. While villagers had backed AAP in previous elections, their withdrawal of support this time proved costly for the party.
Another critical factor was the timing of the Union Budget, which introduced significant tax relief for the middle class. The tax cuts were perceived as favorable to middle-class voters, potentially swaying their voting decisions in favor of the BJP.
Interestingly, the BJP’s campaign this time focused on governance and development, steering clear of its previous strategies of religious polarisation. Instead, the party concentrated on issues relevant to Delhi’s residents, such as corruption allegations against the AAP government.
The decision of AAP and the Congress to contest the elections independently, rather than forming an alliance, further fragmented the opposition. This division allowed the BJP to consolidate votes more effectively, capitalising on the lack of a unified front against them.
To sum up, the BJP’s return to power in Delhi can be attributed to a combination of strategic leadership, targeted welfare initiatives, attention to middle-class concerns, leveraging anti-incumbency sentiments, and benefiting from a divided opposition.
