Stage set for high-pitch poll battle

With the announcement of elections to the 70-member Delhi Vidhan Sabha, the stage is set for a high-pitch poll battle among three major parties - AAP, BJP and Congress - while some new entrants like AIMIM and NCP, who have already announced their candidates on some seats, may queer the pitch of political bigwigs.

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All parties have rolled up their sleeves and issued directions to their cadres for not leaving any stone unturned for the next 30 crucial days which will decide the fate of the Capital politics.

Notably, the BJP, which has remained in brute power in the Centre for the past more than 10 years, has been unable to form a government in Delhi or give a popular face for the CM’s post for more than 25 years now. However, this time, BJP leaders have expressed strong confidence in winning the Assembly elections and that too with clear majority.

Sahib Singh Verma was the last prominent face of the BJP who became the chief minister of the NCT of Delhi way back in 1996. He served as CM for two and a half years, but following an onion price crisis in the city, Verma was replaced by Sushma Swaraj.

Swaraj served as the Delhi CM for 52 days after which the elections were announced and since December 3, 1998, the BJP has remained unsuccessful to form a government in Delhi.

The saffron party experimented with multiple big names like Swaraj, Dr Harsh Vardhan in 2013, Kiran Bedi in 2015 and ultimately Manoj Tiwari in 2019, but all failed to control the wave of the Aam Aadmi Party, which formed the government twice with landslide victories.

Delhi has a 70-member legislative Assembly. Though the BJP has thrice shown its spectacular performance in the Lok Sabha elections, the results of the last two Assembly polls have been completely dominated by AAP.

In 2020, AAP won 62 seats, while the BJP had to settle on eight. The Congress had drawn a blank at that time. In 2015 Vidhan Sabha elections, AAP shattered all records to win 67 of the 70 seats.

This time, AAP has to fight battle on multiple fronts, especially when its clean image of corruption-free politics was hit with two major controversies - alleged involvement of its top leaders in the excise policy case and the high cost of CM-house renovation project. However, its welfare schemes like fellowship for Dalit students, monthly honorarium for women and free medical treatment for elderly have certainly given it an edge.

Moreover, the Congress, which failed to open its account in the last two elections in Delhi, this time seems rejuvenated with its party leaders hitting the ground and communicating with the people.

Congress leader KC Venugopal said Delhi would get to make a decision on February 5 whether it wishes to see five more years of chaos and confrontation between the State and Centre, or a stable government that works solely for the people.

Though the BJP is yet to announce its CM face, it’s hopeful of clinching a victory this season. Political pundits even say the BJP might get an edge in the elections due to the division of votes between the INDI bloc partners - AAP and Congress - who have decided to fight the polls separately.