Key Points:
- AAP’s tenant-friendly initiative: Arvind Kejriwal promises free electricity and water for tenants if AAP retains power.
- Targeting Purvanchali votes: Kejriwal focuses on the economically weaker Purvanchali community, who make up a significant voter base in Delhi.
- BJP counters with manifesto promises: BJP pledges schemes for women, senior citizens, and corruption-free governance.
- Electoral flashpoint: Accusations fly as AAP alleges voter roll manipulation targeting Purvanchali and Dalit communities.
New Delhi: With the Delhi Assembly elections drawing closer, Chief Minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal announced a set of “guarantees” for tenants, aimed at expanding his party’s welfare-driven governance. In a press conference held on Saturday, Kejriwal declared that tenants would soon be eligible for free electricity and water, which are currently offered to homeowners in Delhi.
Empowering Tenants
“While we have ensured free electricity and water for Delhi’s residents, it is disheartening that tenants are excluded from these benefits. If our government is re-elected, we will create a system where tenants will enjoy these subsidies too,” said Kejriwal.
Although he didn’t explain the reasons for the current exclusion, Kejriwal acknowledged tenants’ complaints about the disparity, despite their appreciation of AAP’s initiatives like improved schools, healthcare facilities, and free bus rides for women.
A Move to Win Purvanchali Votes
Kejriwal emphasized the scheme’s impact on the Purvanchali community, many of whom are tenants living in unauthorised colonies. “This is a big step for our Purvanchali brothers, who face financial difficulties when denied government subsidies,” he remarked.
The Purvanchali population, hailing from Eastern UP and Bihar, constitutes a significant portion of Delhi’s electorate, making them a crucial demographic in the elections. Kejriwal’s announcement follows accusations by BJP leaders that AAP insulted the community by alleging manipulation of voter rolls.
BJP’s Election Strategy
In response, BJP launched its manifesto, the “Sankalp Patra”, on Friday. Party president JP Nadda pledged:
- ₹21,000 for pregnant women under welfare schemes.
- Implementation of the Ayushman Bharat health initiative in Delhi.
- Increased pensions for senior citizens.
Nadda took a dig at AAP, calling it the “AAPda party,” claiming that BJP fulfilled 499 of 500 promises made in 2014 and 225 of 235 promises in 2019. He assured voters that all existing Delhi welfare schemes would continue under BJP rule.
Electoral Flashpoint: Purvanchali and Dalit Voters
The political battle over the Purvanchali vote bank intensified as Kejriwal accused BJP of deleting Purvanchali and Dalit names from electoral rolls. This claim was met with protests outside Kejriwal’s residence, where BJP leaders alleged that AAP insulted the community.
Kejriwal, however, doubled down, alleging that individuals from UP and Bihar were being brought to Delhi to create “fake votes”. Both parties have since sought intervention from the Election Commission of India, heightening tensions ahead of the polls.
The Race to the Finish Line
As the AAP seeks a third consecutive term, it continues to leverage its governance model of free utilities and improved public services. Meanwhile, BJP’s manifesto promises and targeted campaigns aim to sway the voters toward change.
The battle for Delhi’s Purvanchali vote base underscores the high stakes in the upcoming elections, with tenants, unauthorised colony residents, and the economically weaker sections at the heart of this political tug-of-war.
