Vikrant Shekhawat : Jan 17, 2025, 06:20 PM
Delhi Election 2025: The contest for Delhi Assembly Election 2025 is becoming very interesting. The performance of the Congress in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections was disappointing, but this time the party has entered the electoral fray with a new strategy. The party has made the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Arvind Kejriwal the main target regardless of the pressure from the allies of the opposition alliance India. This new strategy can prove to be important not only for the Congress but also for the politics of Delhi.Congress's new election strategyCongress has adopted an aggressive stance in Delhi this time. The party has not only fielded strong candidates, but has also intensified the campaign. Veteran leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi have been fielded in rallies and padyatras. The focus of the Congress is not limited to campaigning against Kejriwal, but the failures of the AAP regime have been made a major election issue.The party has fielded strong leaders like Sandeep Dixit against Arvind Kejriwal, Farhad Suri against Manish Sisodia, and Alka Lamba against Atishi. Also, influential leaders at the local level have been given an active role in the election campaign.Reason for tough stand against AAP
There are many political reasons behind this aggressive stance of Congress. Aam Aadmi Party had ousted Congress from power in Delhi and Punjab. After the rise of AAP, the political base of Congress kept shrinking. While Congress got 19% votes in 2013, by 2020 it came down to 4.26%.Congress's traditional vote bank in Delhi—Dalit, Muslim, and slum dwellers—shifted towards AAP. Congress is now attacking AAP with full force to regain this vote bank.Rift in India allianceIn the Delhi elections, the two major components of India alliance—AAP and Congress—are contesting separately. This situation is raising questions on the unity of the alliance. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has expressed displeasure over the aggressive stance of Congress and called it a strategy to benefit BJP. However, Congress has made it clear that to regain its lost political ground in Delhi, it will have to open a front against AAP.Possible results of Congress's aggressionThis strategy of Congress can be beneficial for it, but it also has many political risks. The scattering of votes can increase the chances of BJP benefiting. Despite this, Congress has decided to push Delhi towards a triangular contest to maintain its political relevance.Impact from Delhi to PunjabThe Delhi elections will also affect Punjab, where there is a direct contest between AAP and Congress. Congress has understood that if it does not take a tough stand against AAP in Delhi, it can also have a negative impact on the politics of Punjab. Senior Congress leaders believe that only by weakening AAP can the path of Congress's return open.ConclusionThe aggressive stance of Congress in the Delhi Assembly elections 2025 is part of the party's new strategy. In this triangular contest against AAP and BJP, Congress is trying to regain its lost vote bank. This election will affect not only Delhi but also the political picture of the country. Now it remains to be seen how much success this aggression of Congress brings it.
There are many political reasons behind this aggressive stance of Congress. Aam Aadmi Party had ousted Congress from power in Delhi and Punjab. After the rise of AAP, the political base of Congress kept shrinking. While Congress got 19% votes in 2013, by 2020 it came down to 4.26%.Congress's traditional vote bank in Delhi—Dalit, Muslim, and slum dwellers—shifted towards AAP. Congress is now attacking AAP with full force to regain this vote bank.Rift in India allianceIn the Delhi elections, the two major components of India alliance—AAP and Congress—are contesting separately. This situation is raising questions on the unity of the alliance. AAP leader Sanjay Singh has expressed displeasure over the aggressive stance of Congress and called it a strategy to benefit BJP. However, Congress has made it clear that to regain its lost political ground in Delhi, it will have to open a front against AAP.Possible results of Congress's aggressionThis strategy of Congress can be beneficial for it, but it also has many political risks. The scattering of votes can increase the chances of BJP benefiting. Despite this, Congress has decided to push Delhi towards a triangular contest to maintain its political relevance.Impact from Delhi to PunjabThe Delhi elections will also affect Punjab, where there is a direct contest between AAP and Congress. Congress has understood that if it does not take a tough stand against AAP in Delhi, it can also have a negative impact on the politics of Punjab. Senior Congress leaders believe that only by weakening AAP can the path of Congress's return open.ConclusionThe aggressive stance of Congress in the Delhi Assembly elections 2025 is part of the party's new strategy. In this triangular contest against AAP and BJP, Congress is trying to regain its lost vote bank. This election will affect not only Delhi but also the political picture of the country. Now it remains to be seen how much success this aggression of Congress brings it.