Delhi in 2024: A Year of Electoral Excitement and Political Upheaval

New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) As the year marked by intense political rivalry and upheaval in Delhi's power dynamics comes to a close, the city's leaders and citizens will remain entrenched in election mode. This cycle began with the parliamentary elections and is poised to extend into the Assembly polls scheduled for February 2025.

In addition to paving the way for Modi 3.0, 2024 has emerged as an ideal battleground for the ruling AAP and BJP to engage voters ahead of what could be Arvind Kejriwal 4.0 or BJP 2.0 following the Assembly elections.

Although the possibility of a fourth term for the Congress in the Delhi government exists on paper, it appears to be quite improbable due to the party's internal organizational challenges.

With Narendra Modi securing re-election as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term this year, and the BJP clinching all seven parliamentary seats in Delhi, the saffron party is energized and eager to regain power in the national Capital after a 26-year drought. The BJP has struggled to achieve a majority in Delhi since assuming power in 1993.

2024 also witnessed Kejriwal, known as the ‘Muffler Man’, being released from jail on two occasions – first for a few weeks to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections and later on bail due to the lack of progress by the ED in the case, rejuvenating the AAP amid ongoing corruption allegations.

The release of Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, such as former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh, linked to money laundering cases concerning the alleged liquor policy scam, also marked a critical juncture when Kejriwal resigned as Chief Minister in September.

New Leadership: The national capital welcomed its second Chief Minister from the AAP, Atishi, providing the ruling party with a new challenge to defend this transition.

The AAP endeavored to garner voter sympathy stemming from Kejriwal's forced resignation, but the BJP and Congress maintained pressure by raising pointed questions regarding his tarnished reputation and accusations of corrupt governance.

The year also showcased a growing political animosity among the ruling AAP, BJP, and Congress over various issues, including corruption and free welfare initiatives or ‘revadis’ like complimentary water, electricity, education, health, and bus fare.

Concerns regarding development, Yamuna pollution, hazardous air quality, tainted water supply, inflated bills, clogged sewage systems, law and order issues, infiltration by Bangladeshi nationals, alleged voter list manipulations, removal of bus marshals for women’s safety, and waterlogging during rainy seasons kept the political atmosphere charged throughout the year.

The tragic drowning of three IAS aspirants in Old Rajinder Nagar in July sparked a political controversy, leading to exchanges of accusations between the opposition parties and the ruling AAP.

The celebrations of Constitution Day towards the end of 2024 saw all three parties vying to showcase the achievements of the Dalit icon in a competitive display aimed at winning over voters from marginalized communities.

The quest to become the champion of Poorvanchali voters, who constitute nearly 30 percent of the 1.5 crore total electorate and primarily reside in the 1,700 unauthorized colonies, saw leaders from the AAP, BJP, and Congress spending significant time in these areas, even participating in Chhath Puja celebrations.

Slum dwellers, another crucial voting demographic contributing to about a third of the total electorate, received particular attention from politicians during visits around Dr. Ambedkar’s birth and death anniversaries in April and December.

The Congress focused on addressing issues faced in the rural areas of the city, particularly in regions dominated by the Jat community.

Throughout the year, the AAP emphasized the positive aspects of electing its Dalit candidate as Mayor in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, while the Congress found encouragement in its student wing, NSUI, winning the president's position in the DU students' union after a seven-year hiatus, signaling a potential revival of the Grand Old Party among youth voters.

Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav’s Nyay Yatra – inspired by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s nationwide march – created favorable optics for party supporters who are sincerely hoping that the upcoming Assembly elections will transform into a close triangular contest.

Corruption Allegations in ‘Sheesh Mahal’: All year long, the BJP kept the corruption narrative alive against Kejriwal and the AAP while gearing up for a potential face-off between PM Modi and Arvind Kejriwal in the Assembly elections.

The term ‘Sheesh Mahal’, referring to the renovated official residence allegedly linked to over Rs 52 crore in corruption, dominated political discussions throughout the year.

The year 2024 may be recorded in the city's history as a period when the polluted Yamuna received unprecedented attention.

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva even took a dip in the contaminated river prior to Chhath and reported illness due to skin allergies – a political stunt that drew significant media attention.

Air pollution in the city, exacerbated by Diwali festivities and stubble burning in neighboring states, placed the AAP on the defensive, as rivals successfully constructed a narrative concerning the government's inadequate response to the crisis.

Kejriwal’s criticisms of the BJP-led Central government regarding women's safety and law enforcement were met with counterarguments from the BJP, which questioned the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal at the CM’s residence.

The AAP National Convenor’s visits to victims of heinous crimes resonated with voters; however, this initiative was halted due to an alleged attack on Kejriwal during his padyatras.

The escalating political climate in the city was also reflected in the bustling court activity regarding matters involving the AAP government and its adversaries, alongside the power-sharing struggle with Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.

Apart from the ED cases involving Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, the courts were occupied with issues related to air pollution and the imposition of GRAP, claims of inadequate health services, the introduction of the Central government-funded Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY health insurance scheme, and the presentation of controversial CAG reports detailing the AAP government’s financial mismanagement in the Legislative Assembly.

As the year concludes, the controversy surrounding the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana served as a fitting final confrontation between the ruling AAP and its opponents.

The scheme, introduced by CM Atishi and the AAP to provide Rs 2,100 monthly to women, was labeled “illegal” by the very departments of her government, creating an unprecedented scenario that granted fresh ammunition to both the BJP and the Congress.

The coming New Year will usher in a second election for Delhi residents within a span of just nine months. The BJP’s recent victories in Assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra have heightened expectations among its supporters that the ‘Modi magic’ will transform the city into a saffron stronghold, finally ending the party’s long absence from the power corridors for 26 years.

Furthermore, the outcome of the Assembly election, which will determine the new 70-member House, will have significant implications for the future of the AAP on the national stage, particularly within the INDIA bloc.

As for the Congress, there’s little to lose. The year 2024 served as a time for the party to regroup after the unsuccessful attempt to ally with the AAP during the parliamentary elections.