The 2025 Delhi Assembly election, the first of this year, is regarded as a contest of prestige for all three political parties. Last year, Kejriwal stepped down as Chief Minister following his bail in the liquor policy case, claiming he would lead again when the people of Delhi place their trust in him. This time, the party is relying on various welfare programs aimed at women and the elderly to overcome anti-incumbency and its competitors.
It has also resorted to “soft Hindutva” to counter the BJP’s “Chunavi Hindu” accusation by pledging Rs 18,000 monthly aid to temple priests and gurdwara granthis.
In the meantime, the BJP, energized by its overwhelming success in the Delhi Lok Sabha elections and significant wins in Haryana and Maharashtra, has created the term ‘AAPda’ (disaster) to vigorously criticize the ruling party.
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“Aapda ko hatana hai, BJP ko laana hai”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said while sounding the BJP’s poll bugle last week.
Both PM Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have emphasized the “lavish renovation” of the Chief Minister’s residence, known as the ‘Sheeshmahal’, to reinforce their anti-corruption campaign.
The arrest of Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, and former Delhi minister Satyendra Jain by central agencies over corruption charges has provided the BJP and Congress substantial ammunition to criticize the governing party.
Although the AAP and BJP have ramped up their campaigns, the Congress has not yet begun to actively engage, as its leadership remains relatively absent. Its impact was only noticed on Monday, when Karnataka’s deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, launched the ‘Pyari Didi Yojana’.
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The program promises Rs 2,500 each month to qualified women recipients in Delhi. This is perceived as a response to the AAP’s Mahila Samaan Yojna, which guarantees Rs 2,100 monthly.
Even though the air is cold in Delhi, the election campaigning is intensifying, as the AAP, BJP, and Congress engage in a fierce contest.
