Who Will Form The Government In Delhi State This Time?

Is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government on its way out after ruling Delhi for ten years? Is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) going to form the government in Delhi again after 1996?

Political analysts believe that this election contest is very different from the last time. This time, there is no atmosphere in favor of AAP as before. AAP had received strong support from auto rickshaw drivers in the last two elections. There are about three and a half lakh auto rickshaw drivers in Delhi. This time they are angry with AAP. They are openly opposing AAP. They say that the AAP government did not pay attention to their interests. In response to AAP, BJP and Congress have also announced many concessions to woo the voters.

Amidst the predictions of various political analysts, the country's renowned writer and well-known astrologer, Pandit JP Sharma Trikha, has predicted about ten hours before the voting in Delhi that the BJP government is going to be formed in Delhi. Pandit Trikha, who has been writing weekly horoscopes columns for several English and Hindi newspapers, says that the alignment of the planets is not in favor of AAP. Therefore, it seems impossible for AAP to win the election for the third time in a row. However, Dr. Trikha does not clearly state how many seats the BJP will get in the 70-member Delhi Assembly, but he definitely says that after February 8, the BJP will be in a position to form the government in Delhi. Dr Trikha, who lives in Mumbai, is also a profound scholar of Vastu Shastra.

Meanwhile, if you pass by the Delhi Assembly after dusk these days, your heart will be gladdened by the light spread all around. The whole scene looks as if the historic building of the Delhi Assembly, built in 1912, is ready to welcome the new legislators of Delhi. After a hectic campaign, voting took place on February 5 in capital. After visiting polling booths, one gets an impression that voters are visiting the polling stations in big numbers. The mood was rather sedate.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) campaigned vigorously under the leadership of its undisputed leader Arvind Kejriwal to stay in power. On the other hand, the BJP has also made every effort to ensure that the lotus flower blooms again in Delhi after 1996. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and many other BJP leaders kept asking the public for votes. After being zero in the last two elections, the Congress is hoping for a better performance this time.

The Congress feels that it once ruled Delhi for 15 years and has the power to form the government again. I don't remember parties ever making such a shower of promises to the public before this election. Except for bringing the moon and stars from the sky, they made all the promises to the public.

In his speeches, Arvind Kejriwal presented the election as a battle between "those who work for Delhi and those who try to destroy it."AAP focused heavily on its traditional vote bank - the people living in slums and unauthorized colonies. Through door-to-door campaigns and its vast volunteer network, AAP emphasised the transformation of government schools, the success of Mohalla Clinics, and the continuity of its welfare schemes.

On the other hand, for the BJP, this election is more than just winning seats. The party ran an intensive election campaign. It aggressively presented corruption, scams, and alleged unfulfilled promises in Delhi and Punjab during AAP's rule. Apart from Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and at least a dozen Union Ministers campaigned for the BJP.

Away from the high-voltage rallies of AAP and BJP, the Congress took a different path. Congress leaders kept talking about inflation, pollution, unemployment, and civic mismanagement. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi held several rallies for the Congress, which has been facing political exile in Delhi for more than a decade. Months before the election, the Congress had launched the Delhi Nyay Yatra and a campaign to reconnect with the voters. The main message of the Congress has been - both AAP and BJP have not done justice to Delhi; it is the only option in Delhi. But the Congress was not visible in the entire Delhi. The Congress contested strongly in more than two dozen seats. These include New Delhi, Mustafabad, Chandni Chowk, Okhla, Kasturba Nagar, Jangpura, Madipur seats. Even Congress posters were not visible in Vishwas Nagar, Shahdara, Krishna Nagar etc.

Now the question is whether Delhi is going to reject AAP, which is facing allegations of corruption?

A large number of Muslim voters are seen leaving AAP. They say that Kejriwal did not support them during the Delhi riots. Muslim voters are important in at least six seats in Delhi. Don't be surprised if they support Congress this time. Owaisi's party All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) candidates are also in the fray in Okhla and Mustafabad seats. Owaisi himself is campaigning in favor of his candidates. It is possible that the division of Muslim votes in these seats may benefit the BJP. Congress and AAP candidates are also Muslims in these seats.

Who Does BJP Trust?

The BJP is confident that apart from the Bania, Punjabi and middle class voters, it will also get the votes of those voters who consider Modi ji as their leader. This time, the BJP has also focused a lot on slum clusters and unauthorized settlements. After the huge tax exemption to the middle class in the budget, their vote is expected to be given to the BJP this time. Whether one believes it or not, the real fight to rule Delhi is between AAP and BJP. Congress has contested the election only to make itself relevant again in Delhi. From the current indications, it seems that AAP is definitely ahead of the rest. But we have seen surprising results in Maharashtra and Haryana in the recent times. Now, when results will be out, we must remember the prediction of Pandit JP Sharma ‘Trikha’.

(The author is Delhi-based senior journalist and writer. He is author of Gandhi's Delhi which has brought to the forth many hidden facts about Mahatma Gandhi)