Until recently, the people of Delhi were under the impression that the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party were engaging in a friendly match leading up to the Delhi Assembly elections. However, Rahul Gandhi's rally on Monday certainly injected enthusiasm into Congress workers. Interestingly, his speech did not directly challenge Arvind Kejriwal or weaken the Aam Aadmi Party's stance. As always, Rahul Gandhi focused on national issues, reservation, caste census, and opposition to billionaires like Adani, with Narendra Modi being a more prominent target than Kejriwal. The question arises, what is the Congress strategy? Can it reclaim its ground in Delhi without weakening the Aam Aadmi Party? Congress appears to be playing a very nuanced game, aiming to cause damage to both parties. Let's explore how.
1- Even Symbolic Opposition by Rahul Can Be Detrimental for Kejriwal
Rahul Gandhi's first election rally was strategically held in Seelampur, targeting Arvind Kejriwal. Seelampur is part of the North East Delhi constituency, a Muslim-majority area. Nationwide, the Muslim community feels that the Congress is its sole ally. Kejriwal, often perceived as practicing soft Hindutva, hasn’t shown any inclination to align with Muslim sentiments, especially during events like the Shaheen Bagh protest or the Delhi riots.
Conversely, Congress has consistently stood with Muslims, even to the extent of being branded anti-Hindu. The Muslim community recognizes this, and while some may vote strategically against BJP, there is a growing fondness for Congress which might translate into votes. In the 2020 elections, AAP's Abdul Rehman won Seelampur with over 72,000 votes, surpassing BJP's Kaushal Kumar and Congress's Chaudhary Mateen Ahmed, a five-time legislator, highlighting Congress's potential comeback.
2- A Robust Fight from Congress Could Also Harm BJP
There's no denying that AAP has captured the traditional voter base of Congress, including Muslims and Dalits. However, the BJP also expanded its base by attracting Congress voters, including Brahmins and Banias, once loyal to Congress. If Congress can mount a strong fight, it offers an alternative to disaffected AAP voters, potentially gaining ground lost to BJP.
During his Delhi rally, Rahul Gandhi remarked that 150 billionaires control India, benefitting immensely, while the poor suffer under Modi's and Kejriwal's watch. He pointed out both leaders failed to curb inflation, affecting BJP's voter base too. He emphasized that India's wealth gap is widening, with the poor becoming poorer. The Delhi electorate questions Kejriwal's efforts given their economic struggles, recognizing that his main target remains the BJP.
3- Congress Must Forge Its Own Path, as Even Kejriwal Acknowledges
In the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, Congress had its worst performance, securing merely four and a half percent of the vote. Improvements are anticipated for 2025 elections, with Congress regaining some ground. To reclaim its foothold in Delhi, Congress needs to directly challenge Kejriwal and AAP. However, Rahul Gandhi's strategy seems more focused on highlighting Congress's positive contributions rather than outright opposition.
Rahul reminisces that when Kejriwal emerged, it was during Sheila Dikshit's tenure, promising to clean Delhi and eradicate corruption, creating a Paris-like city. Yet, pollution, health issues, and corruption persist, with Kejriwal falling short of his promises. Gandhi leaves Kejriwal with a question: does he support reservation and caste census for the underprivileged? Highlighting inequality, Rahul advocates for equitable resource distribution and representation for the poor and minorities.
