New Delhi: To counter what it calls the freebies of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is planning to announce a major welfare scheme for women voters in Delhi, ThePrint has learnt.
Differentiating between “freebies” of the AAP government and its own proposed scheme ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, a senior BJP leader told ThePrint that instead of giving waivers in the form of electricity and water bills, the party is looking to opt for direct benefit transfer so that it makes a “real difference” in the lives of people.
The leader said the party is keen to have a specific scheme aimed at women voters in the capital, many of whom have voted for the AAP in past assembly and municipal elections.
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, Maharashtra’s ruling Mahayuti coalition—consisting of the BJP, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and the Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party—has launched the Ladki Bahin scheme, inspired by Madhya Pradesh’s Ladli Behna Yojana. Implemented by the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government in January 2023, the scheme played an instrumental role in the party’s spectacular win in the Madhya Pradesh assembly polls last year.
However, the BJP is yet to ascertain the form in which the scheme will be announced in Delhi for women voters. The party has been out of power in Delhi since 1998 and sees this election as a golden opportunity to regain the reins of the national capital.
“We are preparing on two fronts simultaneously. First, to counter the free announcements of Arvind Kejriwal, we are looking at all possibilities and what can be promised to the public,” a state functionary, who wished not to be named, told ThePrint.
“The way the BJP—under the leadership of PM Modi—has provided free houses to poor people across the country and free treatment facilities as part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme has lent credibility to the party. The poor sections of society are convinced that the BJP means business,” he added.
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BJP making list of ‘unfulfilled’ AAP promises
The BJP is also preparing a list of promises that the AAP made but did not fulfil, the functionary said.
“Arvind Kejriwal speaks about giving free water and electricity to people but in reality, the water that they are getting is unfit for consumption. People’s electricity bills have increased because the moment they cross the 200-unit limit, they end up losing any subsidy that is there. Kejriwal spoke about cleaning the Yamuna but it is still completely dirty. During the Chhath Puja, it became evident,” the leader said.
The party is preparing a list of such “huge electricity bills” that people have received and will be raising the issue in the coming few days.
“The BJP believes in providing welfare schemes to people and ensuring that benefits reach the right person in various states. We have been providing direct benefit transfer schemes and intend to do so in Delhi, too,” said BJP Delhi secretary Harish Khurana.
“The difference between freebies and actual deliverables is what we intend to highlight during our campaign for the Delhi elections,” he added.
Apart from this, the state unit of the party is going all out to target the AAP government over the issue of pollution in the national capital and how it has impacted the lives of people.
The party launched a social media campaign Tuesday with the hashtag #AAPatkaal (emergency).
“Deaths in the capital due to respiratory diseases have doubled over the last 18 years. #AAPatkaal,” the BJP posted on its official X handle.
Aam Aadmi Party’s ‘strike rate’ is for everyone to see.
Deaths in the capital due to respiratory diseases have doubled over the last 18 years. #AAPatkaal pic.twitter.com/TaKPHLjQyf
— BJP (@BJP4India) November 19, 2024
The party has made pollution a major poll plank and has also planned ‘Parivartan Yatras’ in Delhi, which will focus on the issue.
“People of Delhi are severely impacted by pollution and we are going to showcase how the national capital has deteriorated since the AAP government came to power,” the aforementioned functionary said.
“The credibility of Arvind Kejriwal is at an all-time low. Clubbed with this, if we are able to raise issue related to corruption allegations, the liquor scam and the sheeshmahal scam (alleged irregularities in the chief minister’s residence), we can counter the AAP government,” he added.
The BJP has formed two committees to prepare for the Delhia assembly elections: the manifesto committee and ‘Aarop Patra’ (chargesheet) committee. On Monday, senior BJP leaders held a meeting to decide on the future course of action.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)