Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Feb 9: The Congress may have sounded the death knell for the opposition combine INDIA bloc by creating a triangular contest in the Delhi Assembly elections facilitating for the BJP’s return to power in the national capital after 27 years routing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) which in turn had come to power in Delhi 12 years ago ending the Congress party’s unbroken 15 years rule over Delhi.
The Congress is bound to receive flaks for its outright rejection of all suggestions for an electoral understanding with the AAP to fight jointly against the BJP which was seen as the common enemy for both and all other members of the INDIA block which was formed by 28 non-BJP parties before the 2024 Parliamentary elections to fight against the saffron party jointly.
The Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah’s X post on Saturday captures the narrative of the INDIA bloc. In a video clip the J&K chief minister shared tagging an analysis of the Delhi elections when initial trends showed the BJP coming to power, and wrote Jee Bhar Kar Lado, Samaapt Kar Do Ek Doosre Ko (“Go on, Fight Among yourselves,” Abdullah said while posting a GIF with text “Finish off each other.”)
The dig was clearly at the AAP and the Congress which, towards the end, fought an acrimonious battle against each other. In fact, the Congress’ charges against AAP were similar to the allegations made by the BJP against the Kejriwal-led party. AAP, meanwhile, accused Congress of being paid by the BJP and acting as its ‘B-Team’ and it seems actually ended up playing as its B-Team helping at least on 13 constituencies to snatch the seats from the AAP and secure a clear majority in the 70-member Assembly.
With AAP’s loss in Delhi, the first question is — is the INDIA bloc story over? Congress is bound to face the flak. In fact, Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party had decided to campaign for the AAP when they gauged that an aggressive Congress campaign was helping the BJP and dividing anti-BJP votes.
The TMC, for instance, has never been impressed with the Congress’ style of politics. A top TMC leader said, “All we wanted — for example in Goa — was that Congress gets into an agreement, keeps the strong seats for itself and gives at least four to us and two to the AAP.” But Congress countered: “Why should they even fight in Goa where they have no base?” TMC then asked: “Why should we not have the ambition to spread beyond Bengal?”
It’s this sematic war which has brought down the INDIA bloc, which in any case has seen little bonhomie. For instance, during the winter and Budget sessions of Parliament, the Congress-led protests were not joined by the TMC, AAP and even Samajwadi Party.
The political analysts feel that even if the bloc survives, the Grand Old Party will be left out in the cold. There will be a demand to either throw the Congress out or form a front minus them. If the bloc is alive for some time, there will be demand for a non-Congress face for the coalition.
The failure of AAP could also have an impact on seat-sharing talks between the RJD and Congress when Bihar go to the polls later this year, with the former already flexing its muscles. All this will drill the final nail in the coffin.
Mr Abdullah, who had fought the J&K elections last year in alliance with the Congress, took a jibe at the infighting in the INDIA bloc. Abdullah had earlier said the INDIA bloc should be wound up if it was meant only for the parliamentary elections while pointing out the lack of clarity regarding the alliance’s leadership and agenda. The AAP had entered into an alliance with Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, it failed to stop the BJP from winning all seven parliamentary seats in the city and the understanding broke both for Haryana and Delhi elections.
Experts feel that one of the major factor contributing in the AAP’s rout was the dent in Mr Arvind Kejriwal’s image as an honest and non-corrupt leader. Mr Kejriwal had emerged on the national scene as a radical revolutionary who promised to change the politics of the country but instead it was politics that changed Mr Kejriwal. Twelve years in power turned him into yet another politician who lost all his moral lustre and charisma. The AAP was no longer seen as a party with a difference. Moral capital used to be its unique asset, something that few parties in contemporary politics could claim. But over time, the AAP sacrificed its core values; it became vulnerable as its most loyal supporters lost confidence in both the party and its leader.
Serious corruption charges dented Mr Kejriwal’s image. The alleged liquor scam proved to be an albatross around his neck. It landed him in jail, along with his colleagues Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Singh and others. And, the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ controversy proved to be the final straw. Voters could not believe that a leader who criticised every politician for their wealth and fancy bungalows had ironically built a plush house worth crores for himself.
The leaked images of his renovated home did more damage to Mr Kejriwal’s personal image than the liquor scam. He did realise this, and attempted some damage control by resigning from office and leaving the chief minister’s bungalow for a much more modest accommodation. But the deed was done. The middle class, which had been the biggest pillar of the AAP’s success story in the national capital, had already been disillusioned, and ended up deserting the AAP.
The non-performance of the AAP government in its third term from 2020 to 2025 also contributed to its rout. In its first full term, the AAP government was seen to be delivering on its promises. Other than the provision of free electricity and water, schools in Delhi were turned into better centres for education, a step that brought global appreciation for the government. The introduction of Mohalla clinics was also an excellent step to improve primary healthcare. It became a hit among large sections of society that could not afford costly medical care at private facilities.
In the last term, however, the AAP government suffered from policy and administrative paralysis. It was seen as constantly wrangling with the Lieutenant Governor for power. The tussle between the Centre and the AAP government brought governance in the city to a standstill. Broken roads and open sewer lines were for everyone to see.
