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Delhi Elections

Satyagraha in times of toxic politics: Will Shaheen Bagh electorally benefit the BJP?

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.

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5 years ago

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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 53rd 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.”

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Delhi Elections

Arvind Kejriwal reacts to Lt Governor’s video showing Delhi’s hellish conditions

He called on the Delhi government to tackle these “hellish conditions” and emphasized the need to prioritize essential services for the local population.

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3 days ago

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December 22, 2024

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Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor on Sunday released a video depicting what he described as the ‘hellish conditions’ faced by residents under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The video highlighted significant issues including overflowing sewers, unreliable electricity supply, inadequate water access, and heaps of garbage throughout various regions of the national capital.

In reaction to the video, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal expressed gratitude to the Lieutenant Governor for drawing attention to these concerns and assured that the government would take corrective measures.

The footage shared by Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena included scenes from his visits to the impacted areas, with one visit taking place the day before. He called on the Delhi government to tackle these “hellish conditions” and emphasized the need to prioritize essential services for the local population.

The Lieutenant Governor conveyed his distress at observing the dire situation of many residents, noting that each incident was detailed in tweets. He remarked that the filthy water visible on the streets was the result of overflowing sewers, not rainfall. Additionally, he mentioned that the suffering women he encountered were from Delhi, asserting that their plight was not a problem imported from elsewhere.

Saxena pointed out deficiencies in the drainage systems within the visited areas, citing narrow streets clogged with silt and dirty water. He said that poor road conditions, inconsistent electricity supply, and a critical shortage of water, which forced women to rely on infrequent tanker deliveries, occurring approximately every week.

He reassured the residents that essential services would soon be made available and announced the commencement of a cleaning initiative on Monday. Furthermore, he pledged to oversee the progress personally to ensure the community receives the necessary amenities for a decent quality of life.

“I urge the former Chief Minister, the current Chief Minister, and the relevant Ministers of the Delhi Government to visit these neighborhoods and experience these hellish conditions firsthand. Immediate action must be taken to alleviate this dire situation,” the Lieutenant Governor urged.

Kejriwal, who held the position of Chief Minister until September, expressed his appreciation to the Lieutenant Governor for emphasizing the civic issues and stated that the ongoing government, now led by Chief Minister Atishi, would address them.

“I thank the Lieutenant Governor profoundly for highlighting our shortcomings, and we commit to rectifying them,” he said. He added that work had started on the roads he had previously indicated were in disrepair and mentioned that Chief Minister Atishi would soon inaugurate these improvements. Kejriwal pledged that all areas highlighted by the Lieutenant Governor would be cleaned promptly, affirming a commitment to resolve any shortcomings that were brought to their attention.

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Delhi Elections

MCD elections 2022: AAP announces second list of 117 candidates

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections will take place on December 4, and the counting of votes will be done on December 7.

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2 years ago

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November 13, 2022

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MCD elections 2022: AAP announces second list of 117 candidates

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced the second list of 117 candidates for the upcoming Delhi MCD elections on Saturday. The party released the first list of 134 candidates on Friday.

Along with the list of candidates, AAP tweeted Our second list of candidates for the upcoming MCD elections is here! Congratulations to all. Delhi will Vote for Jhaadu to clean the 3 Garbage Mountains gifted by the BJP.

Bobby Kinnar, a member of the transgender community, has been nominated by the party to run in the upcoming elections from Sultanpuri-A Ward. One seat has been reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates in the Sultanpuri-A ward. Sanjeev Kumar of the AAP won the seat in the 2017 elections.

In addition, Kejriwal announced the party’s manifesto for the elections on December 4, promising that his administration would endeavour to uphold 10 guarantees.

Earlier in the day, at a press conference, Kejriwal had dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to tell the public about five things that they have done in the MCD in the last 15 years. He said Forget even five things, let them [BJP] come out and tell us about two things that they have done in the MCD. They just hold press conferences and abuse Arvind Kejriwal 24 hours a day, he stated.

BJP on Saturday unveiled its initial list of 232 candidates for the civic body elections, with the nominees including 126 women, three Muslims, seven Sikhs, and nine former mayors.

Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections will take place on December 4, and the counting of votes will be done on December 7. Voting for 68 assembly seats will be held from 8 am to 5:30 pm on December 4.

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Delhi Elections

Delhi MCD elections: Voting on December 4, result on December 7

As per the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of MCD wards has come down to 250 this year from 272.

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2 years ago

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November 4, 2022

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Delhi MCD elections: Voting on December 4, result on December 7

The state election commission (SEC) of Delhi announced the schedule for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections 2022 today. The elections will take place on December 4 and the counting of votes will be held on December 7.

The SEC stated that the model code of conduct will come into force from today. Hoarding and banners used for the election campaign will be removed. As per the notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of MCD wards has come down to 250 this year from 272.

Delhi MCD election schedule

Issue of notification – November 7
Last date of filing nomination – November 14
Scrutiny of nomination- November 16
Last date for withdrawal of candidate- November 19
Date of polls- December 4
Counting of votes – December 7
Completion of the entire election process – December 15

Vijay Dev, Delhi State Election Commissioner stated out of those 42 seats for SC, 21 seats will be for SC women. 104 seats will be reserved for women, he said.

Delhi Election Commission said that nominations will start in Delhi from November 7 and the last date to file nominations is November 14. As per the EC, out of 70 assembly seats, elections will take place in 68 seats. No polling could be held on two seats due to the death of candidates.

The EC has appointed Returning Officers and has taken the objections and suggestions of the public as well as political parties into consideration, by setting up polling booths at the ward level.

EC said immediate action will be taken against illegal hoardings and posters from today onwards. Loudspeakers will not be allowed from 10 pm to 6 am. The nomination of the candidates will be done from 10 am to 3 pm at 68 places. The police have also been instructed to provide proper security. Candidates can spend between Rs 5.75 lakhs and Rs 8 lakhs.

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