A Fierce Battle for Delhi’s Political Crown
The intense and high-voltage campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections has officially come to an end, paving the way for the crucial February 5 vote. Over the past weeks, the political battleground has witnessed an electrifying war of words, grand roadshows, and a digital blitzkrieg featuring AI-generated spoofs. With the fate of Delhi hanging in the balance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Congress have left no stone unturned in their fight for supremacy.
The BJP, determined to reclaim power after over 25 years, aggressively campaigned through 22 mega roadshows and rallies across Delhi on the final day. The party has banked on national leadership, sharp critiques of the AAP government, and promises of governance reform to make a comeback.
Meanwhile, the ruling AAP remains confident of securing a third straight term, rallying support based on its governance model and popular welfare schemes. Arvind Kejriwal has positioned the party as the champion of free electricity, education, and health services, maintaining that the “AAP storm” will sweep Delhi.”
The Congress, once the dominant force in Delhi for 15 years, is struggling to regain lost ground after back-to-back electoral setbacks. The party aims to revive its fortunes by presenting itself as an alternative to both AAP and BJP.
AI Spoofs, Slogans, and Sharp Attacks Define Campaign
This election saw an unprecedented level of AI-generated political satire, memes, and spoofs, turning social media into a war zone of digital campaigns. Political leaders engaged in sharp verbal duels, with AAP labeling BJP as the ‘Bharatiya Jhootha Party’ (Indian Liar Party) and PM Modi branding AAP as ‘AAP-Daa’ (Disaster). The Congress was not far behind, coining the term ‘Farziwal’ (Fake) for Kejriwal and taking jabs at Modi as well.
Beyond the digital battles, the Election Commission enforced the Model Code of Conduct, ensuring that all public rallies and media campaigns came to a halt 48 hours before polling.
Kejriwal’s Demand for Special Observers Sparks Row
A major flashpoint in the final days of campaigning was Arvind Kejriwal’s demand for special observers in his New Delhi constituency, citing alleged “hooliganism” by BJP workers. In a late-night post on X, Kejriwal accused the Election Commission of being ineffective and claimed that BJP was resorting to fear tactics to sway voters. The BJP hit back, stating that Kejriwal was “sensing defeat” and was making baseless allegations out of desperation.
Kejriwal further escalated the matter by launching a social media campaign with the hashtag #AmitShahKiGoondagardi, urging Delhiites to share experiences of alleged intimidation. He also demanded police protection for AAP volunteers, claiming that Delhi Police was biased towards BJP.
Election Readiness: Security and Voter Arrangements in Place
With over 1.56 crore voters eligible to cast their ballots across 13,766 polling stations, Delhi is set for one of its most crucial elections in recent history. The Election Commission has deployed:
- 220 companies of paramilitary forces
- 19,000 home guards
- 35,626 Delhi Police personnel
Additionally, a Queue Management System (QMS) app has been introduced to help voters check real-time crowd levels at polling stations.
Special arrangements have also been made for senior citizens and differently-abled voters, with 6,980 out of 7,553 eligible voters already exercising their franchise through home voting.
Who Will Form the Government?
With voting set for February 5 and results to be declared on February 8, the big question remains: Who will govern Delhi for the next five years?
In the 2015 elections, AAP dominated with 67 out of 70 seats, leaving BJP with just three and Congress with none. In 2020, AAP retained control with 62 seats, while BJP secured eight seats and Congress once again drew a blank.
This time, the BJP is confident of breaking AAP’s streak, banking on an anti-incumbency wave and its national leadership’s appeal. Meanwhile, AAP is optimistic about a landslide victory, with Kejriwal predicting a “historic mandate.” The Congress, though considered an underdog, is hoping for a surprise comeback.
Will AAP retain its dominance, or will the BJP stage a grand comeback? Can Congress re-establish itself in the capital’s politics? The verdict will be known soon, setting the course for Delhi’s political future.
(With inputs from agencies)
