What worked for AAP and failed for BJP?

What worked for AAP and failed for BJP?

Introduction:

Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal saw amazing victory in Delhi Elections 2015. BJP had to face big failure while Congress was swiped out totally. What led to the fall of Congress is no more a news with Rahul Gandhi proving to be just not fit for politics but subsiding of BJP wave was not so predictable. It seems obvious that the Obama chemistry and Bedi's entry did not pay well for BJP. While Kejriwal benefited from accusations, the same could not be said about Modi led government. Delhi has its hopes high on the new CM with his ingenuous ideas and promises. Time shall bring forth their actions and the consequences shall always be directly proportional to it just as it did for BJP this time.

BJP's failure:

1. Even the wily Amit Shah and the impressive PM Modi failed to appease Delhi when they ignored the promises made during elections. Nobody is spared in a democracy and Delhi had every reason to demand an answer. Being eight months in power and not being able to deliver anything to improve lives of people in the capital was a failure that had to payback. Communal tensions of low intensity had broken up towards the end of year and nothing as such was done by the ruling government to stop it. Attacks on churches few days before the election and the PM silence over it angered Delhiites who are not less troubled by low living conditions and dignity for common people.

2. Hate speeches of the allies of Modi including RSS, VHP and their moral policing was not prohibited by Modi government and people saw in them the motive to promote Hindutva instead of development in India which was supposed to be the core agenda of party during or so they said during election campaigns. People are more aware of the consequences that communal hatred leads to and the losses faced by common people during such situations and Delhi was determined not give in to the hate speeches of corrupt politicians.

3. There could have been differences within the party workers when they were ignored and power was not allocated to them after the win in 2014. Instead of naming a long time party worker as the CM candidate, Kiran Bedi, an outsider was brought to stand against AAP. Kiran Bedi's entry into BJP saw more controversy than enthusiasm. Her tweets against Modi and her sudden approval of him was seen as her being an opportunist.

4. While majority of Delhi's population is grieving for basic human rights like water and electricity, Modi Government was seen spending crores on the visit of foreign ministers and their security. Safety of women is a major issue in Delhi that saw no improvement in this facet while high security arrangements was seen prior to and during the American president's visit. Another such instance that could have left the mob doubtful is the 10 lacs suit monogrammed with PM Modi's name. Cover pages of newspapers with Modi's picture also raised doubts.

5. Allegations on AAP's election funding backfired and the consequence was questions raised on their own funds. Apart from this incident, their constant nicknaming Kejriwal for his resignation last year and in turn not being attacked in this regard made people doubtful on their real intentions. Kejriwal not only took the jibes in a positive way but also went ahead to correct his mistakes accepting them and apologizing earnestly without fake explanations or defending his act. This is totally opposed to what BJP has been doing about its people offending others and then refusing to take the blame.

Against:

1. Kejriwal and his party's appeal to the common people of Delhi was effective indeed and he was able to assure the people that he could give them better living and most importantly, a corruption free Delhi. Right from the very beginning it has been the agenda of AAP to eradicate corruption in politics and Delhi being the capital has been the most tormented of corruption. People saw in him a hope for clean and selfless political system in the country and the Lokpal bill of course, to which BJP has turned a deaf ear.

2. His resignation was a big gamble involving a lot of risk but he still took it after defeating the oldest political party of the country and resigning in 49 days. The gamble paid off when he came back and apologized, sticking to his old agendas instead of forming new ones just for the sake of election campaigning just as any other party would have done. People see in him an honest leader who has the courage to accept mistakes and rectify them in future. Delhi grieving with electricity and water problems could not say no to their only hope.

3. While AAP stuck to giving people reasons to vote for them, outlining their objectives and making better use of social media to propagate them, BJP was sort of overconfident when they missed this part in this election. BJP was busy accusing AAP, giving people reasons why they should refrain from voting back Kejriwal, and hence forgetting to outline their own objectives of what they plan to do for Delhi. Negative campaigning versus positive vibes is an easy fight to predict the outcome.

4. In the short span that Kejriwal formed government in Delhi last time saw lowering of corruption at the street level. The bad news was that the corruption returned back when AAP resigned. This has given Delhi high hopes from the AAP for a better administration in Delhi and to curb corruption from the roots to the tips.

5. Congress' vote back was gone and supporters needed a new name to put their hopes on. AAP was their only rescue and they happily poured their votes in his favour. Poor section of the society was AAP's vote bank right from the very beginning but this time middle class and higher middle class also sae hopes for better administration in his rule. Poorvanchali votes also had every reason to pour into AAP's favour, eventually paying off with a huge victory.

Conclusion:

It is clear that whatever seems to have worked in favour of the Aam Aadmi Party backfired on BJP and they did not the least anticipated such a huge loss. Call it overconfidence or turning blind with powers, they did not do much to assure Delhi of any sort of 'acche din' - the dying slogan of the party. All they did was highlighting the visits of foreign leaders and talking big about PM Modi. They did not invite the ex-CM Kejriwal to the republic day parade while the aspiring CM Bedi was invited. Delhi knows what it wants and is determined to get the plans executed and not just talked about. No Wi-Fi and smart city module but corruption free Delhi with good electricity and water supply is what they ask for.