As the city of Delhi is set to vote in less than a week, on February 8, the Congress party has released 55 point manifesto. So far, the campaign of the Congress party has been moribund and no big party face has campaigned.
We have launched our 2020 Manifesto. Our manifesto is an inclusive manifesto that reflects the hopes and aspirations of all Delhiites. You can read our Manifesto here: https://t.co/mBqFHMlHxj#AisiHogiCongressWaliDilli pic.twitter.com/gInHC1Sc0C
— Delhi Congress (@INCDelhi) February 2, 2020
But, the party is gearing up for the elections in last week, as many party workers, as well as the leaders, have accused that, the party is not putting up a fight which in turn is increasing the chances of BJP. If Congress campaigns aggressively and able to put up a tough fight against AAP, BJP is set to benefit from this as AAP and Congress compete for the same vote base.
After the India against Corruption, Anna movement and Delhi gang-rape case, the Congress support base shifted to AAP- a non-ideological party which banks on populist and freebies. However, Congress party has still resonance among the voters of Delhi, as the city improved substantially in 15 years of Sheila Dixit leadership.
In the 2013 Delhi assembly election, the Congress party won 9 seats but 24.6 per cent of votes. Even in the 2015 assembly election, when Congress party was in its worst phase, it won 9.7 per cent of total votes.
The rise of AAP hurt the Congress party, as the vote percentage of BJP has remained stagnant with 36.34 per cent in 2008 when Congress was nowhere in the scene, 33 per cent in 2013, and 32.3 per cent in 2015 assembly election.
Therefore, BJP has been indifferent to the presence and rise of AAP, but, Congress was hurt badly with Kejriwal’s freebie politics. Its vote percentage was reduced from 40.31 per cent in 2008 to 9.7 per cent in 2015, a 30 per cent drop.
The Congress party has been hurt badly with the rise of AAP and many of its leaders joined the anti-corruption party in the last few months. Just a few days before the nomination for Delhi assembly election began; more than 10 Congress leaders joined BJP. AAP has given the ticket to 6 of the former leaders or MLAs.
The Congress party has decided to put up a tough fight to AAP, which orchestrated its fall in Delhi and to a large extent at centre too; with India against corruption movement.
A few days ago, Manish Tewari, Congress spokesperson, said, “From February 1 to February 6, the Congress party, from its highest echelons to its last worker in the last mohalla, will be all out in the streets promising the people of Delhi better governance, a better life if given a chance to serve again.”
The party also seeks to reclaim the Muslim votes, which drifted to AAP in 2020. Contrary to the AAP, which has refrained from taking a clear stand on the Shaheen Bagh issue, the Congress’s central leadership, as well as Delhi state leaders, has openly supported the protest.
Yesterday, Congress leader, Mukesh Sharma said that the people from ShaheenBagh call me daily and he helps them. “I have my roots in the village I come from. Whenever I help and I do it with all sincerity and vigour. I have helped the people of ShaheenBagh. They call me every day,” said Sharma, who is Congress candidate from Vikaspuri. The swing of Muslim votes could change the result of many seats in favour of BJP, as the minority community votes will be divided between both parties.
Congress party is campaigning door to door instead of holding rallied of big leaders, as this method has produced some credible results in previous assembly elections. “Right now, our candidates and workers are going door-to-door in the constituencies. We are also forming committees, deputing workers and assigning them works at booth level,” said All India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge of Delhi PC Chacko.
The party released its manifesto titled Congress Wali Delhi to remind the people the old golden days under Sheila Dixit administration. It is clear that the Congress party has braced itself for the fight in Delhi and given overlapping vote base, this bound to hit AAP. Expecting a soft approach from Congress, Arvind Kejriwal has been very polite towards Congress leaders and even approached the party for the alliance, as per some reports. Because, Kejriwali’s well aware that, every vote to Congress will go from the AAP’s share.
If Congress party is able to perform well, this is bound to hit the fortunes of AAP and will increase chances of BJP, which have a stable vote base. With the division of opposition votes between Congress and AAP in the triangular fight, BJP might win Delhi.