New Delhi: The political scene in the capital city is heating up as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engage in fierce exchanges over the issue of free services, often labeled as “freebies.” AAP’s National Convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal, recently launched the "Revadi par Charcha" campaign, showcasing the party’s six prominent free services. These include not only free electricity and water but also quality education, healthcare, and free bus travel for women, aimed at swaying voter sentiment as elections loom closer.
The campaign, which runs for 15 days, seeks to counter the BJP's criticisms and cement AAP's position as the party of the common man. Kejriwal’s strategy is to portray the BJP's description of these services as "revadis"—a term implying something handed out without accountability—while underscoring the positive impact these initiatives have had on the lives of Delhi residents.
“I deliver on all promises I make. I do my homework well,” Kejriwal stated, urging the electorate to choose AAP’s symbol of the broom over the BJP’s lotus flower, warning them, “If you press the ‘Lotus’ election symbol of the BJP, your 24-hour free power supply will be discontinued.” This statement seeks to cement AAP’s claim of having provided uninterrupted power and water supply to the residents of Delhi, unlike their rivals.
Kejriwal accused the central government of failing the Poorvanchali population, mainly those residing in unplanned colonies, by creating roadblocks to development projects. Referring to promises unfulfilled during previous elections, he pointed to the BJP’s lack of progress on registering houses and facilitating basic infrastructure development, emphasizing, “The BJP has only deceived the public.”
He highlighted AAP’s accomplishments, including extensive sewer networks and numerous Mohalla Clinics established to provide accessible healthcare, particularly for the marginalized residents. Kochi argued vociferously for AAP’s development record, describing their efforts as countering the BJP's alleged mismanagement and neglect of Delhi's needs.
Countering Kejriwal, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva took to the stage to challenge the efficacy of AAP’s welfare schemes. He suggested allegations of misgovernance and pointed at grave problems such as contaminated drinking water, which purportedly leads to regular fatalities. He claimed, “According to the government's own data, 21,000 people have died due to consumption of contaminated water,” attributing the failures to the playground of Arvind Kejriwal and his party.
“The Rs 73,000 crore scam within the Delhi Jal Board is just one glaring example of Kejriwal’s misgovernance,” Sachdeva asserted, vowing to reorganize the water board if the BJP regains power. He reiterated the BJP’s commitment to implementing all central government schemes effectively, which he claims the AAP has failed to do. “Welfare schemes should be accessible to all,” he added, criticising AAP for not extending subsidies to every Delhi resident.
Sachdeva also raised concerns about education under AAP’s administration, voicing dissatisfaction over the infrastructure of government schools. “All government schools do not offer science and commerce streams after Class 10.” He painted dire scenarios of children struggling academically and raised alarms over the perceived incompetence of the AAP government to nurture the next generation.
The BJP leader challenged Kejriwal’s claims of providing quality healthcare, saying government hospitals are overwhelmed, leading to long waiting times for appointments. He described the situation as desperate, alleging patients received expired or counterfeit medicines. Sachdeva sought to paint the AAP's approach to governance as one riddled with hypocrisy and negligence.
Meanwhile, even as the BJP leaders took jabs at Kejriwal's campaign promises, the dynamics within AAP appeared to face scrutiny. Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor pointed out the absence of Chief Minister Atishi from the launching event of AAP's campaign as suspicious, raising eyebrows about internal party dynamics and speculated discord.
“Whenever any ruling party launches an election campaign, the Chief Minister is usually present on-stage. But CM Atishi’s absence from the launch has made people wonder whether all is politically well between her and Kejriwal,” Kapoor mused.
With both parties firing on all sides, the debate surrounding free services is set to intensify as the elections draw closer. The rivalry extends beyond numbers and statistics, delving deep now, more than ever, as ideology clashes on the importance and execution of welfare programs. Will voters side with the AAP's vision of equality and accessibility through free services, or will they heed the BJP's warnings of misgovernance and rally to their cause? The forthcoming election will undoubtedly decide the outcome of these contrasting political philosophies battling for the hearts and minds of Delhi's populace.
