Delhi Elections: AAP, BJP, Congress Gearing Up For Titanic Clash

The stage is all set for a high-octane battle on 70 assembly seats between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Congress (INC). During the winter season, the political temperature is rising every day as no party is leaving a chance to attack others. The Delhi Election 2025 is surely going to be a litmus test for the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP which won 67 and 62 seats in 2015 and 2020 elections, but this time, the Delhi ruling party has to face anti-incumbency.

A big section of society is in favour of AAP as they are enjoying free government schemes including 200 units of free electricity, 20,000 Liter water per month, unlimited free bus rides to women, and others social welfare schemes. Aam Aadmi Party leaders also claim that they have revolutionised education system and made world-class infrastructure in schools and hospitals, and the Delhi Govt is providing better medical facilities in the capital by introducing the Mohalla Clinic concept.

Photo Credit: PTI

While the Opposition denies it. BJP and Congress have been calling 'Mohalla clinics' a scam. Several photos and videos of the un-operational Mohalla clinics, full of dust, which have turned into a houses for dogs and cows, can also be easily found on social media platforms.

Giving direct financial benefits has also become a new and easier way to attract women voters. It seems like all three parties are racing with each other to give money and "indirectly" buy the votes. BJP did it in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Haryana, while Arvind Kejriwal is doing it in Delhi. Congress is also not far behind. They implemented the same schemes in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh.

AAP's Strategy To Deal With Anti-Incumbency

Introducing some new faces and changing the seats of some key candidates are also going to be interesting developments in this election. Fielding former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from Jangpura instead of Patparganj, and deputy speaker Rakhi Birla from Madipur instead of her own constituency Mangolpuri shows that AAP has noticed their downwards going graph and offered them safe seats. However, many of AAP party workers objected to high command's strategy as they were expecting some local candidate at least.

As the saying goes, an election is an election, and in a democracy, only the voters have the ultimate say in choosing their representatives. Whether Arvind Kejriwal's strategy of changing seats for his candidates will prove successful or not will only be revealed once the Delhi election results are announced.

Strategically, the move was aimed at countering anti-incumbency, but AAP overlooked the internal dissent it could spark. Party loyalists, who had been anticipating their turn to contest, were sidelined in favour of "parachute candidates," leading to discontent among the ranks.

AAP further stirred confusion within its cadre by welcoming leaders from Congress and BJP and granting them tickets. This move left many long-time AAP workers, who had dedicated years to building the party's foundation, feeling betrayed. They accused the leadership of sidelining loyalists in favor of newcomers who had made no contribution to the party's growth.
Allegations of "selling tickets" also surfaced, although no concrete evidence has been documented.

But one thing that this election will decide is the credibility of AAP founder Arvind Kejriwal, who had promised to implement Lokpal for transparency in government functioning, but didn't even talk about it after forming the government in Delhi.

BJP's wish to win Delhi

The saffron party that has formed government in over 20 states since 2014, has never won the battle of Delhi since then. Even the Modi magic failed in front of charismatic Kejriwal. BJP faced major defeats in the 2015 and 2020 elections and is eyeing to win the Capital this time. Though the party performed brilliantly in Maharashtra and Haryana recently.

The BJP deployed its heavyweights and star campaigners to woo Delhi voters, yet failed to strike the right chord. The challenge lies in the Capital's unique demographic mix, which resists divisions based on religion or caste. With a high literacy rate, Delhi's electorate prioritizes development-focused policies and social welfare initiatives that deliver tangible benefits, making traditional electoral strategies less effective.

In 2013, BJP emerged as the single largest party in Delhi with 32 seats, which was 4 short of the majority mark (36). At that time, Congress with 8 seats supported AAP (28) to form a minority government. The collision collapsed in just 49 days, after which, President's rule was imposed for around 6 months.

But later in 2015, when elections took place in Delhi, BJP failed miserably bagging only 3 seats. Congress was wiped out.

In 2020, the BJP did better as it clinched 8 seats, but it was not enough. However, this time, the BJP looks more aggressive and not leaving any stone unturned. Its party workers are hitting the ground and state leadership is questioning the government schemes and promises made almost every day.

Congress expecting a comeback

Delhi Congress has been looking for a stable leadership and the right opportunity to bounce back for a long time now. Since the demise of former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Congress trembled in Delhi. Senior leaders like Ajay Maken, Subhash Chopra, Sandeep Dikshit, Arvinder Singh Lovely (now in BJP), Anil Choudhary, and others tried hard to review the party, but couldn't control the damage that Anna Hazare's India Again Corruption Movement did to party's credibility.

As a result, many Delhi Congress leaders gave up and switched to BJP along with their supporters, while some sailed into AAP's ship leaving behind the shrinking Congress.

Not losing the heart, Congress' local leadership continued to make efforts and waited for their turn. Sandeep Dikshit, Anil Choudhary, Ajay Maken, Devendra Yadav, and Rajesh Lilothia were a few names who kept the hopes for Congress alive even in the most adverse situations.

Now, after a decade when Congress improved its numbers at the national level following Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nayay Yatra and Delhi Congress chief Devendra Yadav's foot march in every constituency of Delhi, have given hope to the Grand Old Party leader for a bounce back.

Experts believe, that if Delhi Congress managed to win even 10 seats, then it is going to put a major dent in AAP's vote bank and could be again in King maker's position just like in 2013.