Politics
Modi’s BJP Aims to Unseat Delhi’s AAP Amid Graft Allegations

NEW DELHI (AP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is vying to unseat the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi’s state legislature elections, as the ruling AAP faces corruption allegations. The election, set for Wednesday, pits Modi’s Hindu nationalist party against Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, which has governed Delhi for over a decade.
Delhi, a federal territory with over 20 million residents, has eluded BJP control for 27 years despite the party’s significant support base. The AAP, known for its welfare policies, has focused on education, health care, and affordable utilities, earning widespread popularity. However, recent graft allegations against Kejriwal and his party have provided the BJP with a potential opening.
“Publicity-wise, the BJP seems ahead of the AAP because it has more significant resources,” said Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a political analyst. “But it will be difficult for the BJP to dislodge the AAP due to its strong voter base.”
Kejriwal, a former Delhi chief minister and anti-corruption crusader, formed the AAP in 2012 amid public outrage over corruption scandals involving the then-ruling Congress party. His administration has prioritized improving public schools, providing free health care, and offering subsidized electricity and bus transport for women.
However, Kejriwal and two senior AAP leaders were arrested ahead of national elections on bribery charges, which they deny, calling it a political conspiracy. The Supreme Court granted them bail, but the allegations have cast a shadow over the AAP’s campaign.
Opposition parties have accused Modi’s government of using federal agencies to target political rivals, pointing to a series of raids and arrests of opposition figures before the national elections. “All the allegations against Kejriwal are false,” said Pooja Lamba, a Delhi homemaker and AAP supporter. “He is with us, and he is like our brother.”
In the 2015 elections, the AAP won a landslide victory, securing 67 of 70 seats. This time, the BJP is banking on its recent victories in Haryana and Maharashtra, as well as its appeal to the middle class through tax cuts and economic policies. Both parties have promised to revamp government schools, provide free health services, and offer monthly stipends to poor women.
As Delhi voters head to the polls, the election is seen as a crucial test for Modi’s BJP, which has dominated national politics but struggled to win state elections in the capital. Results are expected on Saturday.