[dropcap]E[/dropcap]veryone knows that the February 7 assembly poll of Delhi is more or less a triangular fight among the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. We also know that of the three parties the BJP is considered to be in a better position. The other two parties i.e. AAP and Congress are going to the polls amid immense dissident factors with them. Given this background the saffron party can harvest the situation. They know that to have Delhi in ones’ kitty is a political privilege though the small state does not even have full statehood.
However, according to political commentators, the Delhi poll battle cannot be called the ‘triangular’ fight because the Congress party is nowhere in the competition. Yes, it is true the oldest political party in the country is engaging in two front-battles ever since the Lok Sabha poll debacle of 2014.To address the ever growing Gandhi family bashing by the party men and to contain the sky-rocketing popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been the principal agenda of the party today. Amidst this grim situation for the palm party to jump into the strong political current between the BJP and the AAP in the run up to the Delhi poll is akin to a spent force standing in the ring for an exhibition match. The only poll-plank of the Congress today is its repeated questioning on Narendra Modi government’s sincerity in “fighting corruption while slamming the AAP for running away from its responsibilities by quitting government.” For the AAP, its advantages are the disadvantages the Congress party is reaping today. Voters who do not like the saffron party and Narendra Modi have to seek an alternative. Since the Congress is no longer a solid party they can find a solace in the AAP and in Arvind Kejriwal.
For the BJP, its heydays are here. Colourful performances in the recent assembly polls in several states and the continuing soaring of Modi’s popularity are indeed some important cases for celebrations in the saffron camp.