New Delhi: As the Delhi election reaches its final phase, the contest has become highly intriguing.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has won three consecutive elections, now finds itself caught in the very trap it had set, thanks to the BJP’s strategy. Arvind Kejriwal, who previously had a smooth electoral journey, is now struggling. This election is also crucial for the opposition, as all major parties of the I.N.D.I. Alliance are backing AAP, while Congress is contesting alone. In a way, the future of the I.N.D.I. Alliance is at stake. To keep the alliance alive, stopping the BJP in Delhi has become a major challenge for its constituents. If the opposition fails in Delhi, its dominance in Parliament could also weaken. Ever since the minor success it achieved in the 2024 general elections, the opposition has been emboldened.
In the 18th Lok Sabha sessions so far, the opposition has been united in attacking the government. However, the Delhi election could soften their stance. Until now, AAP and Congress stood shoulder to shoulder in Parliament, with the Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties trying to display unity. But with AAP and Congress leaders now making serious allegations against each other in the Delhi election, it seems unlikely that Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal will continue to work together.
In the 18th Lok Sabha sessions so far, the opposition has been united in attacking the government. However, the Delhi election could soften their stance. Until now, AAP and Congress stood shoulder to shoulder in Parliament, with the Samajwadi Party and other opposition parties trying to display unity. But with AAP and Congress leaders now making serious allegations against each other in the Delhi election, it seems unlikely that Rahul Gandhi and Kejriwal will continue to work together.
This election is also impacting Uttar Pradesh politics. The alliance between Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav appears to be under strain, as Akhilesh has sided with Kejriwal instead. He is openly campaigning for AAP, signaling a shift in loyalties. The I.N.D.I. Alliance leaders seem to believe that Kejriwal can stop the BJP’s winning streak. However, given the way BJP is contesting this election, it appears unlikely that AAP will even reach the threshold of victory.
BJP has outmaneuvered AAP by using its own tactics against it. The party has taken over AAP’s key issues, leaving Kejriwal’s party without a strong agenda. When it comes to attracting the poor, BJP seems to have an edge over AAP. The RSS has been actively spreading BJP’s schemes across households, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have personally taken charge of the campaign against AAP. In a rally in Dwarka, PM Modi even declared that he would personally focus on Delhi, and the massive crowd at his rally is being seen as a sign of change.
Kejriwal’s statements indicate that he is feeling the pressure. His remark that ‘poison has been mixed into the Yamuna’ has been seen as an expression of frustration.
