The AAP hypothesis has come true, and the Kejriwal faction has been “swept away” from its own Sheesh Mahal, Delhi, which was a foreseeable event. After 27 years, the prime ministerial party is back in the national capital. How they will fulfill the promises that the seemingly progressive and development-oriented Aam Aadmi Party could not is the ultimate talk of the town and what Delhi will look like in the next 5 years. Joining that very discussion, here’s presenting my views on these pertinent questions.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, interestingly, has roots within its biggest nemesis today. It was started by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, as the Bhartiya Jan Sangh, who was a minister within Jawaharlal Nehru’s cabinet as Independent India’s first prime minister. Mukherjee was a strong opposer of the Nehru-Liaqat pact and the special status of Kashmir and voiced his support for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC). With years of governments falling and failing, coupled with internal disturbances within and outside the Congress, the BJP found its present shape and position as the strongest party in the country.
BJP now leads 14 states and union territories, and this number rises to 19 when including coalitions in five states like Sikkim and Meghalaya. “With great power comes great responsibility” aptly fits here. BJP is now the Spiderman that must maintain its “saviour” identity while steering clear of the web of scams and unfulfilled promises. This term signals Delhi’s exit from a centrist political environment, and before we know it, the challenges will extend far beyond the Yamuna and pollution.
Several states provide insight into the BJP’s master plan. Uttarakhand became the first state to implement the UCC, while Uttar Pradesh has positioned itself as the flag bearer of Hindutva-meets-politics, bulldozing its way into the majority’s hearts. However, the Indian electorate has shown that development triumphs propaganda, evident in last year’s Lok Sabha elections, where the ruling party was “bicycled” away.
The Modi government openly embraces Hindutva, which is not inherently problematic, but the real concern is whether it will also focus on delivering the promises outlined in its “Viksit Delhi Sankalp Patra”—BJP’s manifesto for the Delhi elections. There are already signs of BJP-fication in Delhi, reflected in their vision of “Indraprastha”, evident in the recent launch of the Yamuna cleaning mission. The UT is now being rebranded to attract voters’ nationalistic pride, linking it to the historical cities of the Pandavas—meaning a “City of Inder,” which was considered a land of fulfilling desires and effective governance with exceptional qualities. The overemphasis on these ancient symbols is a masterstroke to unite Hindus, not just for this election but for many more to come.
There is also a strong focus on the poor and the concept of Rewdi or freebies, which are set to take center stage, with Modi being seen as the savior. Despite the same promises from Team Kejriwal, the BJP successfully convinced voters with the promise of greater benefits and a “double-engine” sarkar, effectively working together with power at both the center and state levels.
However, the government has multiple challenges that it cannot ignore, and neither will the Delhiites. The most pressing remain pollution and traffic congestion. A shift to EV vehicles requires infrastructural support, including charging stations across the capital. The gas-chamber-like situation every winter has to be tackled, all while countering AAP’s efforts to fight back to power as they have claimed to continue serving the people.
There are doubts, but there is also a possibility of a strategic shift from independence to interdependence, leading to a major alliance before 2030 between Congress and AAP, considering the vote divide that caused losses for both. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also sarcastically tweeted after the results, “Aur lado aapas mei.” (Keep fighting amongst yourselves!).
The national capital has been promised policies like the continuation of AAP’s legacy of free bus travel and mohalla clinics, along with an ambitious vision of making Delhi the No.1 city in the world, as stated by the Prime Minister himself. However, looking at the national report card of the last decade, some weaknesses need urgent attention to avoid repeating past mistakes. If the BJP truly wants to cement trust among Delhiites—who have chosen them again after 27 years—the focus must be on action over rhetoric.
Nausheen Ali Nizami is pursuing Bachelor’s in Psychology from Jamia Millia Islamia.
Edited by: Sana Faiz
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.
