By Dr. Gyan Pathak
Because the election marketing campaign ends on December 2, the high-profile Municipal Company of Delhi election stays by and enormous bipolar, Congress too can’t be discounted within the fray since a number of of its candidates have gained higher hand in triangular combat in lots of wards. For Congress it’s a query of revival, however for AAP and Arvind Kejriwal – their very future is at stake much more than the BJP that has been ruling the native physique for the final 15 years.
Election for 250 MCD wards will likely be held on December 4 and votes will likely be counted on December 7, the results of which might be keenly awaited since it might now solely resolve which occasion is to rule the MCD for the subsequent 5 years, but additionally how a lot help base is left with the BJP, AAP, and Congress within the Nationwide Capital Territory, solely about 18 months earlier than the Lok Sabha election of 2024. The importance of this ballot lies in the truth that BJP is making an attempt to return again to the facility, Congress hoping for revival, and AAP aspiring to change into a nationwide occasion as a principal challenger to Narendra Modi-led BJP.
One other side of Delhi also can not be forgotten – BJP had gained all 7 Lok Sabha seats in 2019 whereas it might win solely 3 seats in 2020 out of 70 in Delhi Vidhan Sabha. Although AAP couldn’t win any Lok Sabha seat in 2019, it gained 67 seats within the 2020 Vidhan Sabha. As for MCD is worried, stakes are very excessive for the BJP because it has been ruling it for 15 years, and dropping it this time could show to be political catastrophe for all of the state elections in 2023 and normal election within the nation in 2024.
Within the 2017 civic polls, the BJP had gained 181 seats out of 272 in all of the three Municipal Companies in Delhi. There three have been united this time and there are solely 250 seats now as per new delimitation. The occasion had elevated its tall from 138 within the 2012 native physique elections. Anti-incumbency is writ massive on the occasion’s efficiency this time and therefore its leaders are sparing no stone unturned. It has made the election marketing campaign of MCD election be a really excessive profile during which ministers from different states and the Centre have been participated.
AAP had contested the civic elections for the primary time in 2017 and gained 49 seats as in opposition to 181 of BJP. Congress had gained 31 seats and thus declined from second to 3rd place within the MCD. Out of 250, 42 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes, and in a number of of them BSP candidates have been seen campaigning nicely other than some others non-reserved seats.
Since AAP has been striving to emerge as nationwide various to the BJP, the MCD ballot has assumed nationwide significance, which Arvind Kejriwal desires to win at any price not solely to safe his political profession in Delhi, but additionally to undertaking himself as chief challenger to Narendra Modi throughout the forthcoming normal election of 2024.
It ought to be famous that the 2012 native physique election was bipolar between the BJP and Congress. BJP was capable of get 36.74 per cent of votes whereas Congress had bagged 30.54 per cent of votes. AAP had not contested the ballot which entered within the contest throughout 2017 municipal company election.
Since then, voting patter has significantly modified. Congress vote financial institution shrank to 21.21 per cent in 2017 whereas BJP’s shrank to 36.02 per cent. It was AAP that emerged second with 26.21 per cent of votes. MCD ballot of 2017 was thus by and enormous three cornered. Political temper among the many folks this time appears to have modified making the competition by and enormous bipolar between the BJP and AAP.
It appears to be a really powerful contest between the BJP and AAP during which AAP appears to have an higher hand. Even CSDS-Lokniti survey has predicted that AAP would lead over BJP by 5 to 7 per cent of votes. Although it has predicted that BJP would have the ability to get 36 to 39 per cent of votes, greater than 36.02 per cent it acquired in 2017 election. The survey had predicted solely 9 to 12 per cent of votes for the Congress, it ought to be famous that Congress candidates are doing nicely in much more seats than 31 they’d gained in 2017.
AAP candidates have majority help of Muslim voters. Nonetheless, in a number of wards they’re supporting Congress candidates, particularly on the seats the place AAP candidates are perceived to be weak.
Dalit votes appear to be one other benefit for AAP, since majority of them are supporting their candidates. OBC votes are nearly equally divided favouring the 2 events – the BJP and AAP.
The main hope for BJP is Higher Caste Hindu votes, majority of whom are supporting the BJP candidates. Nonetheless numerous them are additionally in favour of giving probability to AAP, in order that municipal mess in Delhi created within the final 15 years could possibly be cleared.
AAP has clear edge amongst poor and decrease revenue folks and in addition amongst girls voters. AAP is hoping to realize over the BJP on their good efficiency in Delhi particularly in schooling, well being and electrical energy, and unfavourable vote for BJP which carried out badly within the Municipal Company of Delhi.
BJP is hoping to retain their energy in MCD as a result of AAP and their leaders together with Arvind Kejriwal have perceivably misplaced their reputation in comparison with what they’d throughout the 2020 Delhi Vidhan Sabha election. There are massive variety of voters irritated with AAP and their leaders.
MCD election would thus deliver a twin choice on governance and recognition of the BJP and AAP which might affect all of the forthcoming elections in 2023 in states and in 2024 Lok Sabha election. It’s why the BJP has put seven chief ministers and 17 union ministers on this native physique election amongst many others. The intermittent scuffles between AAP and BJP staff and leaders additionally point out their excessive political stakes. (IPA Service)
The publish Future Of AAP And Kejriwal At Stake Extra Than BJP In Delhi Ballot first appeared on IPA Newspack.