The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is set to return to power in Delhi after 27 years, securing a decisive mandate in the Assembly elections. The saffron party won 48 seats, ousting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which managed to secure only 22 seats after a decade in power. The party’s manifesto, Viksit Delhi Sankalp Patra, focused on welfare measures across sectors, including women’s empowerment, education, employment, healthcare, and urban development.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had previously slammed the AAP’s freebie politics terming it ‘revri’ culture, but in this election, the BJP not only promised to continue the free services but also announced additional doles for various sections of the electorate.
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BJP’s Promises To Delhi Voters
As people worldwide celebrate Chocolate Day today as part of Valentine’s week, here’s a look at the ‘revris’ offered by the BJP to the electorate that paved the path to its victory:
Women’s Welfare and Financial Assistance
The BJP promised significant support for women, including:
- Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women from poor families
- Rs 500 LPG cylinder subsidy for women, along with one free cylinder on Holi and Diwali
- Six nutritional kits and a grant of Rs 21,000 for pregnant women
- 250 ‘Pink’ Toilets with sanitary napkin vending machines and feeding rooms
- A women-only police battalion
- Paid maternity leave of up to six months for domestic workers
Education and Employment Initiatives
For students and job seekers, the BJP pledged:
- Free education from kindergarten to post-graduation for economically weaker students
- One-time financial assistance of Rs 15,000 for competitive exam preparation
- Ambedkar Stipend Scheme: Rs 1,000 per month for Scheduled Caste (SC) students in polytechnic and skill centres
- Free laptops for meritorious Class 12 students
- 50% concession on professional course fees
- 50,000 government jobs and 20 lakh self-employment opportunities
Healthcare and Social Security
The BJP vowed to implement Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Delhi in its first cabinet meeting, offering:
- Rs 5 lakh in free medical treatment
- Rs 50,000 additional health cover
- Rs 10 lakh life insurance and Rs 5 lakh accident cover for domestic workers and gig economy employees
- Similar Rs 10 lakh insurance for auto and taxi drivers, along with scholarships for their children
Infrastructure And Housing
Other promises of the BJP include revamping the Yamuna Riverfront to match the Sabarmati model, 100% manual scavenging abolition, cleaning Yamuna within three years, sealed 13,000 shops to be reopened within six months, 50% transition to electric/hybrid vehicles, and 13,000 buses to be converted into e-buses
The party has also promised ownership rights to 1,700 unauthorised colonies and 100% registration of farmers under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana with Rs 9,000 annual assistance.
AAP’s ‘Kejriwal Ki Guarantee’ And Congress’ 22-Point Manifesto
Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP had also promised a range of welfare and infrastructure measures aimed at various sections of society. The Mahila Samman Yojana pledged Rs 2,100 per month to every woman, while the Sanjeevani Yojana aimed to provide free medical services for all above 60 years at hospitals. AAP vowed to address unemployment, waive inflated water bills, and provide 24×7 clean drinking water to every household.
AAP also pledged to clean the Yamuna, develop roads to European standards, and replace outdated sewage lines. The Dr Ambedkar Scholarship Yojana was introduced to fund foreign education for Dalit students, while free bus travel for all students and a 50% concession on metro fares were also promised.
Religious leaders were not left out, as the party committed Rs 18,000 per month for priests (pujaris) and granthis. Additionally, AAP pledged to continue free electricity and water, simplify the ration card issuance process, and provide Rs 10 lakh life insurance and Rs 5 lakh accident insurance for auto-rickshaw and e-rickshaw drivers, along with Rs 1 lakh wedding aid for their daughters and free coaching for their children. To enhance security, AAP promised funds for RWAs to appoint and maintain independent security guards.
The Congress party’s 22-point manifesto pledged to regularise contract jobs and provide 33% reservation for women in government jobs. It promised to expand pension schemes with Rs 5,000 per month for senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities, while widows’ daughters would receive Rs 1.1 lakh as marriage assistance. The manifesto also promised 100 Indira Canteens, where meals would be available at Rs 5 per plate.
Congress announced plans to conduct a caste census in Delhi and create a new ministry for Purvanchal. Healthcare commitments included a 24-hour dispensary in each ward, 10 multi-specialty hospitals, and free health coverage up to Rs 25 lakh.
The party also pledged to establish 700 public libraries, upgrade sewage infrastructure, and ensure only treated water is discharged into the Yamuna River. Like the BJP, it promised ownership rights for resettlement and unauthorised colony residents and 24×7 clean drinking water.
Additionally, Congress vowed to restore 15,000 Civil Defence Volunteers, provide career counselling facilities for youth, celebrate Chhath festival on a grand scale like Maha Kumbh, and establish a Jain Welfare Board.
While both parties made extensive promises to woo voters, the electorate ultimately handed a decisive mandate to the BJP.
BJP’s victory brings forth a political shift in Delhi, where the AAP had ruled for two consecutive terms. The elections, held on February 5, saw a voter turnout of 60.54%, with over 94.5 lakh citizens casting their votes. The BJP, which did not name a chief ministerial candidate before the elections, fielded sons of two former chief ministers—Parvesh Singh Verma and Harish Khurana. Verma, emerging as a frontrunner for the top post, defeated former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal by 4,089 votes in the New Delhi constituency.
