Now with focus shifting to New Delhi and BJP finding a new rival in AAP the Assembly elections slated for 7th February would be a real test for the saffron party. Much has changed in these 13 months from the last elections. BJP emerged stronger and powerful in the Centre and countrywide whereas AAP quit after staying 49 days in a confused state whether to from the government or not. Today the party is no political novice and the long ruling Congress is nowhere to be seen in the political scenario except carrying forward a Sheila Dixit legacy in which Delhi looked as if it could genuinely aspire to fulfill its dream of becoming a world class city with modern amenities and infrastructure. As far as BJP is concerned it is devoid of local leaders and the party banks upon PM’s oratory to win again. AAP’s Arvind Kejriwal had sounded apprehension that the elections would be held some where in April, but BJP wanted to send a clear message that they are prepared for the electoral battle and announced the polls. But they were caught on the wrong foot as AAP had announced candidates for all the seats whereas BJP is yet to make a move in that direction. Modi has already shown that his image can offset faction ridden local units as happened in Haryana and Maharashtra by attracting youth to party’s fold. With Congress and other secular parties relegated to the margins they are banking on the overwhelming majority of Muslim votes. BJP however is hopeful of preventing the reckoning that AAP has developed a soft underbelly it did not have last time. It has planned to highlight AAP’s failure to keep promises such as one to regularise the jobs of casual employees of DTC, power companies and teachers in Govt schools. But in lower income groups and slum clusters AAP’s anti-corruption plank and cheaper Bijli-Paani does hold water now also. With all these speculations rife, getting a stable government would be the main issue for political parties as the current election is touted as a direct contest between BJP and AAP with Congress remaining at the third.
