Gustakhi Maaf Haryana: Pawan Kumar Bansal

Firebrand Modi vs Firebrand Kejriwal: Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 with Rahul Gandhi Guest Appearance 

The upcoming Delhi assembly elections, scheduled for next month, are set to be a fierce battle between two firebrand leaders: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Following the BJP’s landslide victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, the party is now setting its sights on Delhi. It hopes that the division of votes between Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will help prevent Kejriwal from securing a third consecutive term in power.

Triangular Contest: BJP, Congress, and AAP

The Delhi assembly elections will witness a triangular contest between BJP, Congress, and AAP. While Arvind Kejriwal has already been declared AAP’s Chief Ministerial candidate, both Congress and BJP have yet to announce their CM faces. Prime Minister Modi has already launched the BJP’s campaign, making scathing attacks on AAP and Kejriwal, calling them “aapda” (disaster) for Delhi. During a public meeting, Modi inaugurated several projects, including the Slum Rehabilitation Project, and called on the people of Delhi to vote for BJP, stating, “Aapda ko hatana hai, BJP ko laana hai” (Remove the disaster, bring in BJP).

Modi vs Kejriwal: A Battle of Wits

Modi also criticized Kejriwal’s alleged hypocrisy, stating that while Kejriwal once boasted of simplicity, he now lives in luxury, referring to the “sheesh-mahal” (glass palace) he reportedly built for himself. Modi added, “I too could have built a sheesh-mahal for myself, but my dream is to provide ‘pucca’ houses for my countrymen.” He also brought up the liquor scam and the exploitation of Anna Hazare’s name for political gain. In response, Kejriwal pointed out that the repeated mention of his name by Modi indicated the BJP’s panic over the development work his government has done, especially for the marginalized and vulnerable sections of society. He also criticized the BJP for lacking a CM candidate and a clear election agenda.

Congress’ Role: Prestige Over Power

While Congress does not have much to lose in the Delhi elections, it remains a prestige issue for both BJP and AAP. A third consecutive victory for Kejriwal would boost his national profile, potentially positioning him as an alternative to Modi in the future. On the other hand, if BJP succeeds in overthrowing AAP, it would demoralize both AAP and Congress, potentially raising questions about Rahul Gandhi’s leadership and the future of opposition alliances. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has already questioned Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, offering herself as the leader of a united opposition.

AAP’s Strategy: Women Voters and Hindutva Appeal

In a bid to attract women voters, AAP has projected Atishi as its potential CM candidate. Besides its strong welfare projects, AAP is also appealing to the Hindu community by paying salaries to priests and portraying Kejriwal as a devotee of Lord Hanuman. AAP hopes that its achievements in health and education, combined with a dose of Hindutva, will help it retain power in the capital.

BJP’s Strategy: Modi’s Popularity and Local Influence

BJP is banking on Prime Minister Modi’s popularity and oratory skills, as well as the influence of prominent leaders like Bansuri Swaraj, the daughter of the late Union Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is campaigning in Delhi. The party is also leveraging the large number of people from neighboring Haryana in Delhi, with leaders like Sunita Duggal from Haryana actively participating in the campaign. Duggal has accused Kejriwal of being involved in the liquor scam, calling into question his anti-corruption credentials.

AAP’s Alleged Neglect of Farmers

In another development, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has accused the AAP government of neglecting the welfare of farmers in Delhi. He alleged that Kejriwal’s government has failed to implement various central schemes meant to support farmers, including the Integrated Horticulture Mission, Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and other agriculture programs. According to Chouhan, this neglect has deprived farmers of subsidies, modern agricultural equipment, and essential facilities like seed testing.

As the elections approach, the contest between Modi’s BJP and Kejriwal’s AAP promises to be one of the most closely watched political battles in India.