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The Delhi Assembly elections are underway, marking a crucial contest between the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Indian National Congress. This high-stakes election sees a total of 699 candidates vying for 70 seats, with 1.56 crore voters set to cast their ballots across 13,766 polling stations. The AAP, led by Arvind Kejriwal, is aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive term, capitalizing on its governance record and various welfare schemes implemented during its previous tenures. Their campaign heavily emphasizes the successes of their social programs and promises of continued progress. The party's strong showing in the previous elections, winning 67 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020, positions them as the frontrunner, though they face a formidable challenge from the BJP.
The BJP, aiming to regain control of Delhi after over two decades, is focusing its campaign on alleged corruption within the AAP government. Their strategy involves highlighting corruption accusations against Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, attempting to undermine the party’s credibility. The BJP also utilizes criticisms of the AAP’s performance on key issues such as Yamuna river cleaning, waste management, and adherence to solid waste management bylaws, portraying the AAP's promises as unfulfilled. The party's top leadership, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, and J.P. Nadda, actively participated in the campaign, aiming to mobilize support across Delhi's diverse electorate. The party's campaign rallies and media presence have focused on contrasting their image of a competent, clean government with the alleged shortcomings of the AAP.
The Congress party, once the dominant force in Delhi politics, is striving for a political resurgence after failing to win a single seat in the previous two elections. Their campaign attempts to present a stark contrast to both the AAP and BJP, emphasizing a commitment to fulfilling their promises – a point often made in reference to their successes in other states. The party brought in Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi to help bolster their campaign and attract voters. The Congress campaign strategy involves highlighting what they perceive as broken promises from both the AAP and BJP, using examples of successful governance in other states to underline their credibility. Congress aims to recapture their traditional vote bank while also attempting to attract disillusioned voters from both the AAP and BJP. They fielded fresh faces, signaling an attempt to rejuvenate their image and appeal to a younger generation of voters.
The Delhi Metro has implemented special measures to support the election process. This includes commencing services at 4 am on both voting and counting days to accommodate polling staff. The extended services aim to facilitate the smooth functioning of the election process, ensuring that personnel are able to reach their designated polling stations and return home safely after a long day. The extended metro hours represent a crucial logistical element supporting the smooth execution of the elections.
The outcome of the election holds significant implications for Delhi's future political landscape. The AAP's performance will indicate whether their governance model continues to resonate with the electorate, while the BJP's success would mark a significant shift in Delhi's power dynamics. The Congress party's performance will be critical in determining their ability to recover from their recent electoral setbacks and regain a foothold in the city's political sphere. The election is expected to be closely contested, with the final results likely to be a tight race between the leading contenders. The level of voter turnout will also be a key factor in determining the outcome of this crucial election.
Source: Stage set for big AAP vs BJP vs Congress battle as Delhi votes for 70 assembly seats