Modi's BJP seeks comeback in Delhi after 27 years

Vote counting is underway in New Delhi, the capital of India, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hopes to return to power after a 27-year absence. The outcome of this election holds significant importance for the BJP, as they aim to gain a crucial foothold in the capital city. A victory here would greatly enhance their political influence nationwide.

Following Wednesday's voting, most exit polls predicted that the BJP would secure an absolute majority, winning more than 35 seats in the 70-seat legislative assembly. Data released by the Election Commission of India indicated that over 60% of eligible voters participated in the election. This high voter turnout suggests significant public engagement in the democratic process.

Winning Delhi is a battle of prestige for both the BJP and the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), given the capital's symbolic importance. Delhi, a federally administered territory, has been governed by the AAP since 2013, with voters supporting its strong performance in welfare initiatives. However, the party has recently been embroiled in corruption allegations, which they deny vehemently.

The BJP, having achieved success in recent elections in other states like Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh, invested significant resources in the Delhi campaign, with both Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah participating in rallies. Simultaneously, most exit polls predict that the AAP will secure fewer than 35 seats. The Congress Party, the main opposition party at the national level, also contested, but polls indicate a bleak outlook for them.

Analysts caution that exit polls released by various news agencies have frequently been inaccurate in the past and are not entirely impartial. Delhi has a unique governance structure, with key decisions related to public order, police, and land made by the Lieutenant Governor (LG), who is appointed by the federal government. The state legislature is responsible for matters including education, health, and public services. Analysts suggest that this division of power often causes friction when the federal government and the state legislature are managed by opposing parties.

This power structure is also why campaigns in Delhi tend to focus more on welfare than on political or identity issues, which play a larger role in elections in other parts of India. Both the AAP and the BJP promised improvements to public schools and free healthcare services, as well as cash subsidies for women, during their campaigns. Concurrently, the BJP also hoped that last week's federal budget would boost their electoral prospects, as it cut income taxes for the salaried middle class, a crucial voting bloc in the capital.

Experts state that while exit poll results are not definitive, they suggest that Modi remains popular among Indian voters, despite his party losing its absolute majority in last year's national elections. The BJP's campaign primarily targeted AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, an anti-corruption activist who was imprisoned last year in connection with a corruption case related to an alcohol sales policy that has since been scrapped. This strategy aimed to undermine the AAP's credibility.

Kejriwal denies all charges and was granted bail in September, accusing Modi's party of "political vendetta" against him and the AAP, allegations that the BJP denies. The Supreme Court's bail conditions prohibited him from entering the Chief Minister's office or signing documents. Kejriwal resigned from the position a few days after his release, raising questions about whether he would be able to resume the role. The legal battles continue to shape the political landscape.

However, on one issue, all parties remained silent during the weeks-long, heated campaign: Delhi's long-standing air pollution crisis. Despite being a pressing issue year after year, no party leader or their manifestos mentioned the hazardous air that shrouds much of the city, home to over 30 million people. This omission highlights a significant gap between political discourse and the lived realities of Delhi's residents.