Has Kejriwal’s 21-day release brightened Cong-AAP prospects in Delhi?

Arvind Kejriwal

If election rallies are indicative of the direction in which political winds are blowing, then the impressive turnout and the renewed vigour among cadres of AAP and the Congress post the release of AAP supremo on interim bail by Supreme Court can count as one.

Since the release of the AAP chief on interim bail, Kejriwal has been at the forefront of the poll campaigns in a clear attempt to galvanize the cadres of the alliance as the capital gears up for the all crucial parliamentary polls.

A four-layered campaign strategy

Senior AAP leader Durgesh Pathak, speaking to Moneycontrol said that the AAP is leading a four-layered campaign. Booth workers along with councillors, legislatures and party functionaries are leading a spirited campaign in all the seven parliamentary seats in Delhi.

“This new strategy has enabled the party to look at issues from multiple perspectives. Individuals at different levels will have a distinct understanding of a problem. When we converge the understanding of individuals we are bound to come up with solutions that are unique, more long lasting and,” added the senior AAP functionary.

How Congress and AAP are leading a spirited campaign in Delhi

“We are fighting against a system that is discriminatory and needs to be changed. Keeping the importance of the ongoing polls in mind, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has agreed to campaign in other states for the INDIA bloc. His timely release (on interim bail) has added a renewed vigour to the campaign. If one were to measure, the campaign pitch has risen by ten-fold since his release”, highlighted Mr. Pathak.

Both Congress and the AAP have overcome the initial challenges and are ensuring optimal coordination between the two parties. We are chairing regular meetings of our combined coordination committees and are confident that the alliance will upstage the BJP in Delhi, observed the AAP leader.

The green shoots in ‘campaign 2024’

Speaking to Moneycontrol, Anil Chaudhary, former president of Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee said the most noticeable difference in campaign 2019 and 2024 is that people are taking the INDIA bloc more seriously.

“Unlike 2019, where the BJP dominated the election narrative, it is changed this time around. Our manifestoes and the pledges are being discussed among the people and we find the people being more receptive to our speeches. The public reaction is very encouraging and we are confident that the alliance (AAP & Congress) will emerge victorious in Delhi,” said  Anil Chaudhary.

The Congress leader observed that with the BJP repeatedly attacking its manifesto, it has helped them to spread awareness about its stated promises and programmes. The lies and the misinformation regarding our manifestos has worked in our advantage as people are actually reading our manifesto and engaging with our party workers.

Campaign aligned towards achieving electoral dividends

A senior AAP functionary on condition of anonymity said that the party has launched the fourth phase of campaign on May 13 under which a series of dialogues with traders, rural population and women. The meetings are part of the AAP’s campaign-themed “Jail ka jawab vote se”. The election schedule gives Kejriwal nearly two weeks to intensify AAP’s campaign in Delhi and Haryana, and nearly three weeks to campaign in Punjab.

Why Kejriwal’s release was timely

The AAP supremo’s interim bail came at a crucial time for the party ahead of May 25 and June 1, when Delhi and Punjab will go to polls, respectively. Polling in Haryana, where AAP is contesting one (Kurukshetra) of the 10 Lok Sabha seats in alliance with Congress, is also scheduled to be held on May 25.