#LokSabhaElections2024 : BJP Eyes Record Hat-trick 7-0 In Delhi ; AAP Battles Image And Unending Controversies

BJP and NDA have set target of abki baar 400 in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. And Delhi votes on May 26 in the sixth phase on all the 7 Lok Sabha seats . For the BJP it is the pressure to maintain their juggernaut in the capital 7-0 . In two previous elections in 2014 and 2019 the score-line was the same for the BJP .

Can the BJP score a hat-trick this time in 2024?. The party has campaigned on the success of the Modi government and the achievements in the last 10 years while reaching out to the voters.

And much to the surprise of the political pundits – BJP dropped four of it’s sitting MP’s from the 2024 Lok Sabha battle. Former India cricket team opener and East Delhi MP Gautam Gambhir cited his cricket commitments and pulled out and thus ended his brief political innings . The BJP top brass then dropped – Ramesh Bidhuri (South Delhi), Meenakshi Lekhi (New Delhi), Parvesh Sahib Singh (West Delhi) and Dr Harsh Vardhan (Chandni Chowk) .

BJP named daughter of late foreign minister and stalwart Sushma Swaraj , Bansuri Swaraj as candidate form the high- profile New Delhi seat.  Manoj Tiwari vs Kanhaiya Kumar battle in   NortnEast Delhi is eager awaited . Many have suggested a close – contest in the  offing.

The Battle lines are drawn in Delhi  :

New Delhi  : Bansuri Swaraj  vs Somnath Bharti (AAP)
North East Delhi  : Manoj Tiwari  vs Kanhaiya Kumar (Congress)
Chandni Chowk  :  Praveen Khandelwal  vs J P Agarwal (Congress)
North West Delhi:  Yogender Chandolia  vs Udit Raj (Congress)
West Delhi  : Kamaljeet Sehrawat  vs Mahabal Mishra (AAP)
South Delhi :  Ramvir Singh Bidhuri  vs Sahi Ram Pehelwan (AAP)
East Delhi  : Harsh Malhotra  vs Kuldeep Kumar (AAP)

In an attempt to break the BJP  hold in the capital   , The Congress party and AAP have  stitched together an alliance  after  several deliberations . Congress contesting three seats while AAP 4 seats .

There was furore over the Congress alliance with AAP with Delhi Congress Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely switching over to the BJP expressing his unhappiness over the deal  sealed .

For AAP the polls are a litmus test and a battle for survival .  The party has been mired with controversy  one after another beginning with the e Liquor policy scam – Several of its leader’s are behind bars – former health minister Satyender Jain and former Deputy Chief Minister  Manish Sisodia .

Delhi chief  Minister Arvind Kejrwal is on interim bail till  June 1, 2024. Kejriwal was earlier arrested by the ED on March 21, stirring controversy and raising eyebrows across political circles. SC even questioning ED the timing of the arrest. Kejriwal had  apparently ignored 10 summons by the ED .

Earlier AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh  too was arrested but was granted bail by Supreme Court after six months.

If the liquor gate was not enough  making the matters worse ahead of the polls was  the  dramatic  assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal by  Delhi Chief  Minister Arvind Kejriwal aide Bibhav Kumar. The assault gate has put the  party on the back- foot  as the  shocking details on Maliwal’s FIR  came out  in   public domain.

Will BJP’s gamble of replacing four MP’s pay off   or will  there be sympathy for Kejriwal over his arrest and his  claim that BJP is scared of AAP and aims to finish the party?  .  These  are the questions the  public will answer  as the results come out on June 4.  Till then watch this space . The Delhi Dangal  could not have been more interesting.