New Delhi: With only six days to go for the Delhi Assembly polls, the AAP, BJP, and Congress are leaving no stone unturned for the win. All three parties’ leaders are locked in a war of words, pledging heaps of free goodies to sway voters. From issues to freebies: Zameen and Asar of free services The AAP model of freebies crafted by AAP has now diffused both in BJP and Congress, fielding elections on the basis of freebies instead of issues.
While Delhi faces many fundamental issues, none of the parties seem interested in them. Instead, they are announcing free schemes to draw voters, which tremendously impacts elections.
Here is a glimpse of what each side is bringing to the table this time:
The AAP has based its entire election strategy on providing free services. This time, they have pledged Rs 2,100 a month to women, continued free bus services, free treatment in government and private hospitals under the Sanjeevani scheme for elderly citizens, and a monthly pension of Rs 2,500 for those over 60. They also promised to keep water and electricity free—a benefit they plan to extend to tenants.
Besides, AAP promises free bus and concessional metro rides at 50 percent for school and college students. AAP has not made any promise to give any subsidy on gas cylinders as compared to BJP and Congress. Here, the BJP is not lagging behind in pursuing freebie politics. To go one step ahead of AAP, the BJP has promised ₹2,500 per month to women and ₹21,000 to pregnant women.
It has also introduced pension schemes of ₹2500 and ₹3000 per month for senior citizens 60 years of age and 70 years of age, respectively. In the education sector, BJP has promised free education from kindergarten to post-graduate levels, promising ₹15,000 for post-graduate students, or entrance exam-relegated exams, and, well, ₹10,000 for SC students for their courses.
The BJP’s manifesto also commits to continuing the AAP’s free schemes on electricity and water supply, free domestic gas cylinders during Holi and Diwali, and the sale of domestic gas cylinders at ₹500 on regular days. They have also promised free treatment under the Ayushman scheme to the tune of ₹5 lakh.
Even Congress has offered women ₹2,500 per month in its manifesto, on the lines of BJP and AAP. They also made a commitment of ₹8,500 per month to educate the unemployed. On the other hand, Congress has not yet declared any pension for the elderly. The most popular is their promise of free medical treatment up to ₹25 lakh. They have also announced ₹500 domestic gas cylinders besides free ration kits.
The Aam Aadmi Party is entirely new to the political scene. When it came into prominence in Delhi in 2013, it was just a decade-old party promising free electricity and water for the common man.
In the 2013 elections, no party won the majority, yet AAP formed a government. AAP historically returned to power in the 2015 elections with 67 out of 70 seats, albeit the government fell after 49 days. AAP won 62 seats and again formed the government in the 2020 elections.