In the midst of the noise and chaos, Jalvaid Yadav stands beside his fruit cart, closely observing each passerby, hoping to draw in customers. In his sixties, Yadav is eager for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to regain power as Delhi prepares for elections on February 5.
His motivation? Former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s “pro-poor stance.”
“We yearn for a government that prioritizes the poor. Kejriwal has achieved much for Delhi. He has provided us with free water, free electricity, enhanced education and healthcare, established Mohalla Clinics (local centers offering essential medicines and tests in various neighborhoods of Delhi), and granted women free access to public transport. He genuinely cares for the less privileged,” Yadav states.
“We desire a government other than the (BJP) in Delhi. If the same party dominates everywhere, they will impose their will. In Delhi, we want Kejriwal; at the Centre, we support Modi,” he adds.
On the other side of the road, S.K. Pandey, a professor at a Delhi University College, and his friend, S.P. Verma, now retired, bask in the winter sun while chatting outside their residential colony. Behind them, a large open drain releases a foul odor every few moments. The neighborhoods appear rundown and neglected, with heaps of garbage and exposed manholes scattered throughout. Pandey and Verma are in favor of the BJP.
Their rationale? Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on vikas (development).
“We appreciate Modi. He advocates for vikas and acts on it. Kejriwal hardly addresses development or vital issues like pollution, the Yamuna, or road conditions. He is distributing freebies funded by taxpayers. What’s the point? Look at the state of our roads, neighborhoods, and drains…no improvements have been made in any area,” Pandey passionately argues, with his friend nodding in agreement.
The contrasting viewpoints along the same street in Karawal Nagar epitomize this year’s Delhi assembly elections, characterized by two competing narratives. On one side is AAP’s robust pro-poor, welfare-centric agenda led by Kejriwal. Conversely, there are those critiquing the noticeable lack of infrastructural development during Kejriwal’s administration, opting instead for the BJP, which focuses on development.
AAP was victorious in this narrative clash five years ago. During the 2020 assembly elections, the party secured 62 out of 70 seats with a 54% vote share, leaving its main competitor far behind with only eight seats and a 38% vote share. Meanwhile, Congress, the third significant contender in the fray, ended up with nothing, garnering a mere 4.3% vote share.
AAP’s substantial 15 percentage point lead over BJP implies that there must be strong anti-incumbency sentiments against the party for BJP to make a significant impact this time.
The stakes
The contest for Delhi carries critical implications for its primary players, with high stakes for all.
For BJP, this is about prestige. Despite its significant victories in Delhi during Lok Sabha polls under Modi’s leadership—winning all seven seats in 2014, 2019, and 2024—success in assembly elections has been elusive, with Arvind Kejriwal safeguarding his domain and thwarting BJP’s ambitions to govern the state. In fact, BJP has not held power in Delhi since 1998, marking a 27-year-long wait to rule the national capital.
