The Delhi assembly election campaign nearing the end, Arvind Kejriwal led AAP government seeks a re-election focusing on the issues of development, the BJP on the other hand has stuck to plank of ‘nationalism’ keeping Shaheen Bagh at the centre of the campaign quite overtly in the wake anti-CAA agitation entering its 53^rd day.

The Shaheen Bagh protesters have been subjected to the ire of many like home minister Amit Shah and other BJP leaders for standing up against the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act. However, this act seeks to grant Indian citizenship to non-Muslim communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who are facing religious persecution in their countries.

But the critics argue that this act can’t be seen in isolation, rather it is to be seen along with the exercise of National Register of Citizens (NRC). Although, the Centre hasn’t begun the process of NRC but has started the process of National Population Register (NPR) which is the first process towards a nationwide NRC as entailed in its official website.

Why Shaheen Bagh?

“What else could BJP have chosen?”, asks Sajjan Kumar, a political analyst associated with Peoples Pulse, a research organisation focussing on fieldwork-based political studies.

Kumar argues that since the BJP has been out of power for almost 22 years in Delhi, its election campaign could have focused on either highlighting corruption or the agenda of development. “There hasn’t been any major charges of corruption against the Arvind Kejriwal government, on the other hand his government is credited with the developmental task undertaken in taken in the last 5 years,” says Kumar.

“It seems that the BJP has made shaheen bagh its main poll plank. There is no talk about any corruption in the aap or other issues related to development,” says Dr Vikas Pathak who teaches at the Asain College of Journalism

Sajjan further says, “BJP is trying to change the electoral narrative from small welfare material issues of electricity, transportation, water etc to cultural and national issues like CAA and NRC in the wake Shaheen Bagh protests.”

What all has been said about Shaheen Bagh?

• BJP’s Kapil Mishra likens Delhi polls to “India vs Pakistan” contest
• Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, an MP from West Delhi, told in an interview to ANI, that “they (Shaheen Bagh protesters) will enter your houses, rape your sisters and daughters”.
• Union Minister Anurag Thakur encourages voters to chant “Desh ke Gaddaron ko…….”.
• Dilip Ghosh, West Bengal BJP Chief, questioned why nobody was dying at the Shaheen Bagh protest despite sitting in the cold for days together. “What surprises me is that people were dying after standing in line for two to three hours. But now women and children are sitting in temperatures as low as 4-5 degrees Celsius but nobody is dying! What nectar did they have? I am astonished! What is their incentive (for protesting)?” said Ghosh at the Kolkata Press Club.
• The Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement targeting the Shaheen Bagh protesters the other day in an election rally asking voters to decisively vote so as to avoid protests like Shaheen Bagh. He said, “press the button with such anger that Shaheen Bagh feels the current.”

The politics of ‘one-upmanship’

2014 and subsequent general election campaigns of the BJP has projected Narendra Modi as the ‘sole’ credible leader to lead the country and the BJP has also been able to champion the narrative of ‘if not Modi, then who”. Modi government’s comeback with a vehement majority clears shows the

In the case of Delhi, however, the BJP has complete failed to put up a credible face to challenge Arvind Kejriwal. As well in recently concluded state assembly elections Modi’s popularity hasn’t served as a magic pill for the party.

“There are certain pre-requisite conditions for the Modi’s popularity to work, either the incumbent leader is unpopular or the BJP has state level popular leadership to weave a local narrative topping it up with Modi’s popularity and thus becoming invincible. However, that is not the case in Delhi,” says Sajjan.

What does the scenario say?

Shaheen Bagh as movement has been an inspiration for many similar protests through out the country with the focus begin the led by women. The moment has been recognised by several international media organisations as well. Which has seen enormous solidarity  pouring from many sections of the society including the film industry.

“Seeing the Muslim women lead the protest, a large of middle class voters who could have otherwise voted for the BJP have become sympathetic to the movement. And BJP’s vilification campaign would ultimately help the the AAP, given the bi-polar scenario,” says Kumar.

And the numbers as well don’t seem to favour the BJP as far as 2015 assembly results are concerned but the BJP was able to retain its all seven seats with a whopping 10 percent increase in the vote share.

“But, since Shaheen Bagh being at the centre of the political campaign and the bi-polar nature of the Delhi elections has pushed the Congress to the third position, the Muslim have consolidated to vote for the AAP,” Sajjan further claims.

“In light recent elections, it seems that state assembly elections are contested on issues of development not on issues of Hinduvta. If this experience is anything to go by, the BJP is critique of AAP only on Hindutva may not result in its victory,” says Pathak.

Sajjan adds that a section of lower middle and middle-class could have otherwise voted for the BJP but since they are direct beneficiaries of AAP’s policies on transportation, water, electricity and health will make them vote for AAP.”