The political landscape in Delhi is witnessing a significant intensification of campaign rhetoric as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) escalates its electoral strategies ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections. The party has ramped up its poster war with a direct, confrontational message aimed at its main political opponents—Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). One of the most notable aspects of this new strategy is the inclusion of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in the AAP's latest set of posters, marking the first time he has appeared in the Arvind Kejriwal-led party's political material.
The bold poster bears the headline "Kejriwal's honesty will outweigh all the dishonest people," and prominently features not just Gandhi but also key figures from the BJP. In addition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, local Delhi BJP leaders are also featured in the campaign material. However, the most provocative inclusion is that of Rahul Gandhi. The presence of the Congress leader in the AAP’s campaign posters suggests a new phase in the ongoing political battle in Delhi, where AAP is no longer merely sparring with the BJP but is now firmly taking on Congress as well.
The decision to include Gandhi is a direct response to the recent public remarks made by the Congress leader, who sharply criticized Kejriwal’s tenure as Delhi’s Chief Minister. Gandhi, during a rally earlier in the week, stated that the people of Delhi no longer wanted Kejriwal’s governance model, which he termed as “false propaganda and PR-driven.” Instead, Gandhi emphasized that Delhi required the “real development model” that had been championed by Sheila Dikshit, the former Congress Chief Minister of Delhi. This comment was seen as an attempt to challenge the narrative that Kejriwal and his party have been building over the years, suggesting that the AAP leader’s claims of delivering progress in the capital were overstated and hollow.
In his criticism, Gandhi accused Kejriwal of mimicking Modi’s “propaganda strategies,” which, according to Gandhi, had failed to address the critical issues facing Delhi, including pollution, corruption, and inflation. Gandhi went on to allege that both Kejriwal and Modi were working against the interests of marginalized communities such as Dalits and tribals by not giving them their rightful share of development. This rhetoric has sparked a fierce back-and-forth, with AAP seeing an opportunity to solidify its image as the party of "honest governance" while positioning Congress as an out-of-touch force that has lost relevance in Delhi.
In addition to Gandhi’s statements, prominent Congress figures like Ajay Maken and Sandeep Dikshit, the son of Sheila Dikshit, are also being targeted by AAP in their campaign posters. Maken, a senior Congress leader, had previously labeled Kejriwal “anti-national,” while Sandeep Dikshit is contesting against Kejriwal in the New Delhi constituency. The inclusion of these Congress leaders on AAP’s posters underscores the party’s strategy to not only take on the BJP but also to emphasize the rift between AAP and Congress, especially in a city where Congress once held significant sway.
On the other hand, the BJP has not been silent in this political battle. The party released its own poster on social media, continuing its long-running “Aapda” (disaster) narrative aimed at portraying AAP as a party of misgovernance and corruption. The poster attacks the AAP leadership as a "gang of big thugs full of goons and criminals," urging the people of Delhi to “teach a lesson” to AAP on February 5. The BJP’s continued focus on portraying AAP as the architect of the city’s problems highlights the party’s ongoing challenge to Kejriwal’s leadership, especially as the election draws near.
As the Delhi Assembly election on February 5 approaches, the contest is shaping up to be a heated triangular battle, with AAP, Congress, and BJP all vying for political supremacy in the capital. Despite their formal alliance in the broader opposition bloc known as INDIA, AAP and Congress have opted to contest the Delhi election separately. This is a highly strategic move, with AAP accusing Congress of being “irrelevant” to Delhi's political future and accusing the national party of colluding with the BJP.
Kejriwal, meanwhile, has sought to frame the upcoming election as a referendum on his party’s “honest governance” and its commitment to delivering tangible results for Delhi’s residents. With the stakes higher than ever, AAP is emphasizing its track record of providing clean governance, contrasted with what it characterizes as the failed policies of both national parties. This framing serves as a direct appeal to Delhi’s voters, particularly those who have grown frustrated with the political status quo.
With Congress aiming to reclaim some of its lost ground and BJP pushing hard to take control of Delhi, the outcome of this election is likely to have significant implications for the national political scene. The election results, expected on February 8, will not only determine the future of Delhi's governance but also set the stage for the 2024 national elections, where Kejriwal’s AAP is eyeing a larger role in the broader political landscape of India. As the political war intensifies in the capital, voters will soon have to decide whether to continue with Kejriwal’s vision or embrace the alternatives proposed by Congress and BJP.
