Delhi BJP laying groundwork for next year's election in capital amid AAP's woes

New Delhi: With a series of key meetings, the BJP has started work for the elections set to be held in Delhi next year. With feedback from the ground showing that the image of former Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party strongman Arvind Kejriwal taking a beating, the BJP has seen an opportunity to highlight what it sees as the 'aam aadmi' issues – sadak, paani and bijli (roads, water supply and electricity) – planks on which the AAP had risen to power in Delhi a decade ago.

Even as the polls in Haryana are around the corner, the BJP has held an extensive series of consultations with the Delhi unit in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore on September 29 and 30. A senior BJP unit leader said that the meetings were held to devise ways to take on the AAP, which still remains a tall task.

“It is a challenge, but the image of Arvind Kejriwal has had a dent, and he realised this and gave up his seat to let Atishi take over as the chief minister,” the leader said. “Our main poll plank will be corruption; the Sheeshmahal expose had a great resonance among the people in Delhi,” he said. The Sheeshmahal case is a moniker for the accusations that Kejriwal spent Rs 45 crore of taxpayers’ money on the renovation of his official residence.

Leaders said that one of the key planks will be the potholes in Delhi and innovative protests are being planned to attack AAP on the matter. Local leaders have been asked to increase their presence among the public and raise issues that have affected them.

A series of yatras have also been planned, and each of the 7 Parliamentarians of the party in Delhi have been asked to lead these walks in their regions. These walks may begin sometime later next month, said leaders. Apart from that, feedback from the mandal level is also being planned by the top brass, said BJP Delhi unit leaders.

Sources in the BJP said that while there is an opportunity to breach the AAP citadel in Delhi, an earlier feedback did not indicate too many seats for the BJP in the Capital. While the BJP has swept Delhi across all the seven Lok Sabha seats for three consecutive terms, the assembly wrestle has proved to be a tough task.

There is also the likelihood that the BJP might pit a senior woman face, and there have been speculations that former union minister Smriti Irani or even newcomer Bansuri Swaraj against Atishi.