AAP sting: Why BJP has missed an opportunity to reign in Delhi

In what could be termed as a major success for the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party as the party has once again managed to grab media and people's attention. The party in a latest video sting, whose authenticity still needs to be checked, has shown BJP leaders from Delhi indulging into horse-trading with its MLA to form government in the national capital.

What does the sting show?

The AAP on Monday released a video which showed some BJP leaders, including Delhi BJP vice president Sher Singh Dagar, allegedly offering a plum post and money to AAP legislator Dinesh Mohaniya in a bid to form the government in Delhi.

The rebel party has also said that it will file a complaint against the BJP with Election Commission.

"We will not let the BJP form the government in Delhi. The BJP is cheating the people of Delhi," said Kejriwal.

"BJP doesn't have the numbers; if they did they would have formed the government in Delhi", said Kejriwal at a press conference in Delhi on Monday.

AAP gets yet another chance to come into limelight

With this sensational sting the AAP has once again caught the media's attention that it was failing to get for quite some time. It was a perfect time for the AAP, which was on the back-foot ever since its drubbing in Lok Sabha polls, as the BJP was mulling over government formation in Delhi without going for polls.
The sting has given Kejriwal and Co., a chance to make their presence felt in Delhi's politics.

BJP's image tarnished?

The BJP may have completely rejected the video but has not come up with a viable justification.

What would also go against the BJP is the fact the party doesn't have the required figure to show its strength on the floor of the 70-member assembly. Its a known fact that the BJP doesn't enjoys a clear majority and the party's reluctance towards going for a re-poll would probably go against it.

This development will also give the BJP's arch rival, Congress, an opportunity to gain grounds against it. The party still lacks people's faith and credibility but BJP's loss will be Congress's gain.

To make matters worse, none of the top BJP leaders have spoken on the sensational expose from the AAP. The counter arguments coming from the BJP quarters are also not satisfactory.

Time for BJP to learn from its mistakes

But a couple of mis-judgements on the part of BJP would cost the party dearly. Had the BJP gone for assembly polls in Delhi soon after Lok Sabha polls, it would have comfortably won here as well. The party should have immediately dissolved the assembly and went for elections.

This incident will certainly deplete the BJP's image in common man's eyes and will certainly affect the party's ambitions of coming to power in Delhi.

It won't be too late, if the BJP starts course corrections and the first step in that direction would be by dissolving the Delhi assembly as soon as possible and then getting a fresh mandate through re-polls.

The BJP must understand that the people still have faith in it and its leadership. All thats needed is its workers should start door-to-door campaigns and highlight the achievements of the Narendra Modi government. The party would definitely get a positive outcome.