BJP is strengthening the alliance for Delhi polls, while I.N.D.I.A bloc faces growing internal divisions.
New Delhi: With just a few weeks remaining until the crucial Delhi Assembly elections, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned in its quest for control of the national capital. Despite a string of victories in the Lok Sabha elections, the saffron party, over the past few decades, has faced continuous setbacks in the Assembly elections. However, the party’s Delhi unit is optimistic, hoping for a return to power after 1998. Crucial meetings have been taking place between the RSS and BJP to finalise key strategies and candidates. A source privy to this matter told The Sunday Guardian that the names have almost been finalised, and the list is expected to be announced soon.
For the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Delhi Assembly elections will not be a cakewalk this time, as a lot has happened over the past 18 months. Top party leaders, including former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and others, have faced imprisonment on corruption charges.
In a strategic move to bolster its chances, the BJP is set to contest the Delhi polls with strong support from parties within NDA’s fold, including Janata Dal (United), Chirag Paswan’s Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), and Jayant Chaudhary’s Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). National General Secretary of RLD, Trilok Tyagi confirmed that discussions have been going on regarding the alliance for the Delhi elections.
“As of now, we cannot say much about the number of seats on which we will contest. Our party chief, Jayant Chaudhary, and Home Minister Amit Shah will take the final call”, he said. Similarly, LJP’s Delhi in-charge, Pranab Kumar, said, “There is no doubt that we will contest the Delhi polls with BJP. Our party chief, Chirag Paswan, has a massive youth following, and this will benefit the alliance.”
Regarding the number of seats, he said, “We want to contest on 8-10 seats in the constituencies where there is significant presence of Purvanchalis. There are 20-25 constituencies in Delhi, where they have a strong hold. So, we want to contest on such seats such as Janakpuri, Shalimar Bagh, Trilokpuri, and others. Discussions have been going on for the past two weeks and a final decision will be announced soon”, he said.
Nitish Kumar’s JDU has also announced to contest the polls, but there has been no official confirmation regarding the number of seats or the constituencies.
At a time when the NDA is emerging stronger with each passing day, the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A bloc is facing an existential crisis as cracks begin to surface. Recently, AAP said that it would seek removal of Congress from the I.N.D.I.A bloc if the grand old party does not take action against Ajay Maken for labelling former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal ‘anti-national’. Similarly, during the parliamentary session, the I.N.D.I.A bloc appeared divided on the Adani issue, and some alliance partners even questioned Congress’s doubts on EVMs.