by Ajay Kumar
Lucknow: The political battle in the Delhi Legislative Assembly elections has reached a new turning point this time. Arvind Kejriwal, the convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), who has previously entered Delhi’s electoral arena with promises of free electricity, water, and education, is now adopting a new strategy in the electoral fight. His attempt to capture power in Delhi is no longer limited to free schemes; this time, he is focusing on making law and order, security, and increasing crime the main electoral issue. His strategy is clear: target the BJP’s weak spot, which is the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi.
Kejriwal is trying to make the public understand that Delhi is no longer as safe as it used to be. Citing statistics, he is conveying the message that women, children, and senior citizens in Delhi are now facing fear and anxiety over their safety. According to him, crime is on the rise in Delhi, incidents of gang wars are increasing, and serious crimes like extortion are growing day by day. On this issue, he is attempting to corner the BJP and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, as the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for law and order in Delhi. Kejriwal claims that Delhi has been handed over to criminals and goons, and the BJP is not taking any concrete steps to address this.
For Arvind Kejriwal, this election could prove to be very challenging, as the Aam Aadmi Party has shown signs of weakness in certain areas of Delhi. This is also one of the reasons why Kejriwal has taken full control of the election campaign, and now he needs to win on every front. Especially in areas where AAP’s position was weak, Kejriwal has tried to bring strong leaders from other parties to his side. In addition, while Kejriwal had started the ‘revdi culture’ campaign regarding free schemes, he is now focusing more on the security issue in Delhi, as he believes that this is the issue that could bring him back to power.
The rising crime incidents in Delhi have strengthened Kejriwal’s campaign. On one hand, increasing gang wars, extortion cases, and the inaction of the police have disappointed the people of Delhi, while on the other, Kejriwal is using this issue as a political weapon against the BJP. He is continuously questioning what the police and central government are doing when criminals are roaming freely in Delhi. He states that the work style of the Delhi Police has come under scrutiny, and even he himself has fallen victim to the deteriorating law and order. In recent times, Kejriwal has been attacked, and AAP is working hard to prove that if even a chief minister is not safe, what would be the situation for an ordinary citizen?
Additionally, Kejriwal recently visited the family of a young man who was killed in the Naraina area of Delhi. He shared their grief and then, upon leaving, launched an attack on the BJP, stating that now no one is safe in Delhi. He asked why action is not being taken against gangsters whose names everyone knows. He further questioned that unless the Modi government and the police provide security to the people of Delhi, criminals’ morale will continue to rise.
The responsibility for law and order in Delhi lies with the Ministry of Home Affairs, and it is under the control of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. By raising this issue, Kejriwal is attempting to corner the BJP and Amit Shah directly. He is trying to convey that the Modi government has completely failed in ensuring safety in Delhi amidst rising crime and insecurity. Kejriwal claims that every day in Delhi, 23 children, 40 women, and 3 senior citizens fall victim to crime. Moreover, on average, over a thousand crimes are reported every day, including cases of rape and murder. Using these statistics, Kejriwal is challenging the BJP, asking what steps the government is taking to stop the increasing crime in Delhi.
The BJP has tried to respond to this attack, but the situation seems weak for them in front of Kejriwal. Instead of defending themselves, the BJP appears to be on the back foot in responding to Kejriwal’s narrative. Kejriwal has made the issue of law and order so effective that the BJP now has to struggle to defend its image on this matter.
Kejriwal’s move seems to be working as a successful electoral strategy because security has become the biggest issue for the people of Delhi. It will also be interesting to see whether the BJP can convince the people of Delhi through its policies and campaigns that they are working on improving law and order or if Kejriwal, through his strategy, will be able to retain control of Delhi. The election results will reveal whether this issue benefits or harms any party.
