NEW DELHI: Facing a tough challenge from BJP and Congress, AAP is working on a three-pronged strategy to score a hat-trick in the Delhi assembly polls – focus on subsidies through ‘revdi pe charcha’, attack BJP-led central govt, and change the sitting legislators to beat the anti-incumbency against its govt and MLAs.
Various wings of the party were holding regular discussions over six prominent subsidy schemes. On the other hand, the second list of candidates was a reflection of the desperate changes being made, bringing fresh faces to the line-up. Of the 31 candidates announced so far, the party has already changed over 20 candidates while giving tickets to turncoats for a few seats.
AAP had not only won the last two assembly polls with ease, it had also created a record in 2015 by winning 67 of 70 seats and nearly repeated the performance in 2020 with 62 seats, majorly due to the “spotless” image of Arvind Kejriwal and an “honest” govt under his leadership.
With the allegations of corruption against its govt and general unhappiness of the electorate against its legislators, including a few who won the three consecutive elections in 2013, 2015, and 2020 – the party has changed its strategy this time.
“The residents of Delhi are generally happy with the performance of govt in the capital, especially with the subsidy schemes that help poor families save a good amount due to ‘zero’ electricity bills and free travel for women on buses. Whatever little angst that they may be there against local MLAs will be gone with a new face being propped by the party,” a senior AAP functionary, requesting anonymity, said.
Another AAP functionary said the ‘revdi pe charcha’ campaign was an attempt to make people see the benefits of six important schemes – free water, free electricity, free and quality education in state-run schools, free healthcare, free travel for women on buses, and free pilgrimage scheme for senior citizens – being run by govt.
He claimed that hundreds of micro teams have been formed by the party, which interact with residents in small groups and discuss the schemes. “The residents are asked to call their relatives in other states, especially those where BJP has its govt, and find out if they were getting such benefits. The idea is to tell people that only AAP can provide such benefits,” said the AAP functionary.
The party, simultaneously, is running a campaign to discredit BJP-led central govt by attacking it on law and order. It is trying to set a narrative against BJP, its principal opponent.
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