- Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has dominated the last two Delhi elections. However, the government has faced significant corruption allegations related to a now-scrapped liquor policy.
- The BJP aims for victory, leveraging large rallies led by PM Modi and a well-organized election campaign. After a decade on the sidelines, the Congress also seeks a comeback.
- Kejriwal and several ministers, including his close aide Manish Sisodia, were imprisoned for months. Kejriwal stepped down as Chief Minister, leaving Atishi in charge, claiming he would return only after receiving a “certificate of honesty” from the people.
- The AAP government has also been hampered by repeated conflicts with the Lieutenant Governor (LG).
- Despite the Supreme Court ruling that the elected government holds primary power, with the LG’s authority limited to land, public order, and police, the Union government granted the LG control over bureaucrats via an Ordinance.
- The arrests of Manish Sisodia and Arvind Kejriwal stemmed from the LG-approved investigation into the liquor scam. Kejriwal’s arrest in March lasted nearly six months, while Sisodia spent 17 months in jail.
- Several other AAP ministers and leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Satyendar Jain, and Amanatullah Khan, faced arrests on various charges. These corruption allegations significantly impact AAP, a party that rose to power on an anti-corruption platform.
- AAP, after briefly governing with the Congress, won the 2015 election following Kejriwal’s apology and a promise of a full five-year term.
- Their second victory was fueled by a governance model focusing on education and healthcare. Despite PM Modi’s “revdi culture” criticism, the Delhi model led to AAP’s success in Punjab and expansion elsewhere, granting it national party status.
- A loss in Delhi would severely impact the ten-year-old party, while a victory would solidify its position as a formidable challenger to the BJP.
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