Three Can Play That Game

Delhi has to choose between the BJP’s national appeal, the legacy of the 15-year Congress rule and the AAP’s local promises

- Soni Mishra

During a padyatra through the narrow lanes of Seelampur, a massive unauthorised colony in northeast Delhi, Dilip Pandey makes an earnest appeal to the people: please do not vote for the Congress. “Please do not waste your vote,” says the Aam Aadmi Party candidate. “The Congress is trying its best to divide the votes so that the BJP wins.”

He cites the recent assembly byelection in Jind, Haryana, where he claims the Congress helped the BJP win by splitting the opposition votes. He adds, derisively, that wherever there is a triangular fight, the Congress would come third. Delhi goes to the polls on May 12.

Pandey's appeal reflects the AAP's main concern—that the anti-BJP vote would be split between his party and the Congress, helping the BJP no end.

In the East Delhi seat, for instance, BJP candidate and former cricketer Gautam Gambhir could benefit. Though AAP's Atishi has a remarkable track record, especially regarding improvement of schools, Congress's Arvinder Singh Lovely could dent her hopes. As a former MLA from Gandhi Nagar, which falls in the East Delhi constituency, he could win back a section of the Congress voters who went to the AAP. If this happens, Gambhir—who was a late entrant and has not had the time to talk to voters like his opponents—could win.

The Congress and the AAP had, after talks that spanned months, failed to seal an alliance. The AAP had made the first move, as its future depends on how it performs in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, its political base. A poor showing could affect its chances in the 2020 assembly elections there.