The high-stakes Delhi election battle has not only intensified political rivalries but also laid bare the growing fissures within the opposition INDIA bloc. While the bloc was initially envisioned as a united front against the BJP, cracks have become evident as Congress allies openly align with its rival, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), further complicating the political dynamics. A prominent example of this shifting allegiance is the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) enlisting its party MP and veteran actor-politician Shatrughan Sinha to campaign for the AAP, a move that has caused significant embarrassment and unease for the Congress.
Shatrughan Sinha’s active campaigning for the AAP is particularly painful for the Congress because of his past association with the party. Popularly known as "Shotgun" for his fiery rhetoric and his iconic on-screen dialogue "Khamosh," Sinha is a former BJP leader who was personally wooed by Rahul Gandhi to join the Congress in 2019. He contested on a Congress ticket from Patna Sahib in Bihar during the Lok Sabha elections but lost to the BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad by a massive margin of 2.84 lakh votes. After his defeat and increasing disillusionment with the Congress, Sinha switched to the TMC in 2022, marking yet another chapter in his political journey. His decision to now campaign for the AAP, which directly opposes the Congress in Delhi, serves as a symbolic snub to the party that once championed him as a key player in its revival efforts.
Sinha is set to campaign in at least three critical constituencies—New Delhi, Kalkaji, and Jangpura—on February 1 and 2, according to reports. These constituencies are significant for the AAP, with Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister Atishi, and senior leader Manish Sisodia contesting from these high-profile seats. The stakes are high, and Sinha's star power, coupled with his charismatic oratory skills, is expected to add a boost to the AAP’s campaign.
His presence could be particularly impactful in areas like Delhi’s trans-Yamuna belt, where the electorate comprises a high density of Purvanchali voters, accounting for approximately 33% of the city’s population. The BJP has historically targeted this demographic by fielding prominent Bihari figures such as Manoj Tiwari and Ravi Kishen to connect with voters. By bringing in Shatrughan Sinha, who enjoys significant popularity among Purvanchalis due to his Bihari roots and Bollywood fame, the AAP aims to counter the BJP's influence and strengthen its appeal within this key voter base.
The AAP, which emerged from the anti-corruption movement led by Anna Hazare, has been facing an uphill battle amid allegations surrounding the Delhi excise policy case. The controversy has seen several top leaders, including Kejriwal, being arrested and spending time in Tihar Jail. The party has consistently dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, accusing the BJP-led central government of misusing investigative agencies for a witch hunt. However, the ongoing controversies have provided ample ammunition for the BJP, which is leveraging anti-incumbency sentiments after a decade of AAP's rule to mount an aggressive campaign.
In a strategic gamble, Kejriwal resigned as Delhi's Chief Minister ahead of the polls to seek a renewed mandate from the public, framing the election as a referendum on his governance. With voting scheduled for February 5, the AAP is pulling out all stops to counter the BJP’s narrative and mobilize public support. In this context, the active backing of INDIA bloc members like the TMC, Samajwadi Party (SP), Sharad Pawar’s NCP faction, and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has given the AAP a much-needed edge, while also further isolating the Congress within the opposition coalition.
Reports indicate that the SP is also considering sending its MPs to campaign for the AAP, highlighting a broader pattern of INDIA bloc members prioritizing their alliances with Kejriwal’s party over their ties to the Congress. The situation is particularly ironic given the Congress’s history in Delhi, where it once enjoyed an uninterrupted 15-year reign before being ousted by the AAP in 2013. Since then, the Congress has struggled to regain its foothold in the capital, with its political relevance dwindling further in subsequent elections.
For the Congress, Sinha’s involvement in the AAP’s campaign is a bitter reminder of its declining influence. When Sinha joined the Congress in 2019, he had declared it as "the political future of India," but his defection to the TMC and subsequent support for the AAP underscores his dissatisfaction with the party's leadership and direction. His presence on the AAP campaign trail is as much about bolstering the AAP’s electoral prospects as it is about sending a strong message to Congress about its weakening position within the INDIA bloc.
The Delhi elections have exposed deeper fractures within the opposition coalition, with allies like the TMC openly supporting the AAP at the expense of the Congress. The INDIA bloc, which was formed to counter the BJP's dominance on a national level, now appears riddled with internal contradictions and competing interests. While allies like the TMC and SP align themselves with the AAP to tap into its local strength, the Congress finds itself increasingly sidelined, struggling to assert its relevance both in Delhi and within the broader coalition.
As the campaign heats up, the battle for Delhi is shaping up to be a litmus test for the AAP, which is seeking to overcome anti-incumbency and allegations of corruption, and for the BJP, which aims to reclaim power in the capital. For the Congress, however, the stakes are different. Beyond the immediate contest, the Delhi elections represent a broader struggle to maintain its relevance in a rapidly evolving political landscape where even its closest allies seem to be abandoning ship. With figures like Shatrughan Sinha openly campaigning for its rival, the Congress faces the daunting task of navigating its political future in the face of growing isolation within the opposition ranks.
