As the Delhi assembly elections on February 5 approach, the political battle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified, with both sides pulling out all the stops to sway voters in the capital. On Thursday, multiple political heavyweights from both parties took to the streets, addressing high-voltage rallies across the city.
Representing the BJP were Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Union Minister JP Nadda. They launched sharp attacks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of mismanaging infrastructure, allowing the Yamuna river to remain polluted, and sheltering Rohingya refugees. The BJP leaders urged voters to support a BJP government to bring change to the capital.
In response, the AAP fielded its leader Arvind Kejriwal, who held rallies in Hari Nagar, Rajouri Garden, and Madipur. Joining him was Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who addressed voters in Chhatarpur, Kasturba Nagar, and Mehrauli. AAP leaders highlighted their welfare schemes, emphasizing the party’s commitment to empowering Delhi’s women with a promise of ₹2,100 for every poor woman in the city if the party is re-elected.
Yogi Adityanath took a direct shot at Kejriwal, questioning his ability to address pollution in the Yamuna. During his rally in Kirari, Adityanath pointed to the cleanliness of the Sangam in Prayagraj, urging Kejriwal to take a dip in the Yamuna to showcase his commitment to cleaning the river. Adityanath’s second rally in Karol Bagh involved allegations that AAP instigated the 2020 Delhi riots, where communal violence resulted in 53 deaths. He also compared Delhi’s infrastructure unfavorably to that of Noida, claiming Uttar Pradesh had outdone the national capital in terms of development.
Kejriwal countered these claims, criticizing the BJP’s governance in Uttar Pradesh, particularly its neglect of government schools. He promised to send Delhi’s Education Minister to Uttar Pradesh to demonstrate how to improve the quality of education in the state.
The election race is a critical one for both parties. For AAP, a win would secure a historic third consecutive term in power, after landslide victories in 2015 and 2020. On the other hand, the BJP, which has not ruled Delhi since 1998, is hoping to break AAP’s dominance and regain control of the state government.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 years between 1998 and 2013, has struggled in recent elections. Though Congress leader Rahul Gandhi skipped multiple rallies, the party hopes to stage a comeback in the February 8 vote count.
Amidst the intense campaigning, the focus of the election has been on welfare schemes, with parties debating issues ranging from corruption accusations against AAP’s leadership to the BJP’s failure to present a clear Chief Ministerial candidate. Allegations of voter deletions and the distribution of election gifts have also sparked controversy.
Bhagwant Mann, who has been campaigning for AAP in Delhi since January 15, lashed out at the BJP’s governance in other states, accusing them of failing to deliver free electricity and healthcare, unlike AAP, which has implemented these services in Delhi and Punjab.
Nadda, addressing rallies in Uttam Nagar and Shakur Basti, continued his criticism of AAP’s alleged corruption. He accused Kejriwal of broken promises, from free education to water supply, and emphasized that the BJP would continue existing schemes while introducing more for Delhi’s people.
As the election campaign reaches its final stretch, both AAP and BJP are determined to make their mark, promising the electorate better governance and social welfare. The coming days will determine who can effectively win the hearts of Delhi’s voters and form the next state government.
