NEW DELHI: JDU’s bid to contest Delhi elections complicates BJP’s seat-sharing, emphasising growing influence among Purvanchali voters.
Janta Dal (United) has once again heightened tensions for the Bharatiya Janata Party by announcing its decision to contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February-March 2025. This move has complicated seat-sharing arrangements for BJP. Delhi JDU in-charge and MLC Bhagwan Singh Kushwaha stated that the party has expanded its presence in Delhi and intends to contest elections strongly in areas where the party has a significant foothold. While JDU previously announced its alliance with BJP for the Jharkhand Assembly elections, it is now demanding four seats from BJP for the Delhi elections.
“After taking charge, I personally visited many areas of Delhi. The people want relief from the corruption of the Kejriwal government. JDU is preparing to contest in 10 seats, especially in areas dominated by Purvanchalis, with strong claims on four constituencies where Bihar and Purvanchal influence is significant”, said Kushwaha.
He further urged BJP to finalise seat-sharing arrangements within one to two months. Kushwaha also emphasised that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar holds significant influence in Delhi.
He said, “If Nitish Kumar’s arrow and BJP’s lotus contest together, Kejriwal’s broom will be swept away.”
Commenting on Kejriwal’s resignation, he remarked, “There was no point in stepping down now. He should have resigned when he was jailed on corruption charges. The people of Delhi are disillusioned with him, and his return is unlikely.”
JDU National Spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad said that the party has previously contested the Delhi Assembly elections and will do so again this time, in alliance with BJP under the NDA umbrella. While he refrained from specifying the number of seats the party aims to contest, he mentioned that seat-sharing discussions are underway and JDU expects to receive a “respectable” share of seats.
However, a party insider revealed that JDU has significantly expanded its presence in the capital, particularly in constituencies with a large number of voters from Bihar and Purvanchal. The party is primarily focussing on constituencies like Badarpur, Burari, Palam, and Uttam Nagar, where the Purvanchali vote holds considerable sway in determining electoral outcomes.
A senior Delhi BJP leader, on the condition of anonymity, said, “JDU may not have a significant base of workers or supporters in Delhi, but our party is known for its discipline, and we will abide by whatever decision is made by our central leadership. The party workers will align their efforts with the national context. If it becomes necessary to contest elections against the I.N.D.I.A. alliance, we must prioritise defeating such forces. In this scenario, the NDA should stand united without focussing on who has the base or the supporters. The BJP is a strong organisation in Delhi, capable of uniting parties under the NDA banner to take on anti-nationalist groups. Ultimately, the central leadership of BJP will make the final decision, and we will all accept it.”