Delhi Elections 2025: BJP readies plan to beat AAP at its own game

The BJP and AAP will face off in the Delhi elections scheduled to be held on February 5. (File Photo: PTI)

Eyeing power n the national capital after two successive routs against relative newcomers Aam Admi Party, the Bharatiya Janata Party may replicate its success mantra that helped it gain power in Madhya Pradesh and then in Maharashtra.

While the party has so far limited its campaign to targeting AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal over the 'Sheesh Mahal' controversy and the liquor policy case to diminish AAP's tall claims of honest governance, the BJP's manifesto for the Delhi elections may see a direct counter to the freebies offered by the incumbent government as part of the saffron party's promises to the electorate.

There are two major initiatives being planned by the BJP to be included in its manifesto. The first is a cash-for-women assistance scheme along the lines of the Laadli Behen Yojana in MP and the Ladki Bahin scheme in Maharashtra. This scheme would be a direct counter to the Mahila Samman Yojana announced by the AAP government.

The BJP manifesto may also include a promise to extend free bus rides for women (introduced by AAP) to male students and senior citizens.

The free bus scheme for male students is likely to have no age restrictions and anyone can avail it by furnishing their identity card. "Currently, the scheme is applicable only to women students and expanding its ambit will help us attract voters," The Indian Express quoted a senior BJP leader, who is a part of the election manifesto committee, as saying.

For senior citizens, the leader said, every citizen above the age of 60 would be eligible for it. The BJP's proposal for a monthly financial aid to women, on the other hand, could range between Rs 2,500 and Rs 3,000. The Mahila Samman Yojana announced by Arvind Kejriwal provides an assistance of Rs 1,000 to women with a promise to increase the monthly aid to Rs 2,100 per month if AAP is voted back to power.

The BJP also plans to initiate an awareness campaign to inform voters about the success of similar schemes in other states it has a government in while highlighting how the AAP has failed to deliver upon such promises in Delhi and Punjab.

The introduction of these new schemes, meanwhile, is unlikely to hamper the other existing schemes like university special and woman-only buses which would be renewed to ensure safe transport and the fleet of CNG and electric buses could also be increased.

Similarly, the BJP manifesto, likely to be released soon, may also guarantee that the existing welfare and subsidy schemes like 200 units of free electricity, free water, and free transport for women will either be continued or be enhanced.

As per The Indian Express, the BJP's 'Sankalp patra' is also likely to include promises of up to 300 free units of electricity for households and up to 500 free power units for religious places. Other proposals may include "jaha jhuggi, waha makaan", a solar policy akin to the central one, cleaning up of Yamuna within a year, and razing of the "kooda pahads (mountains of garbage)".

Notably, the BJP had earlier been critical of the freebies announced by the AAP government, something that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to as "revdi" culture. However, the success of its welfare schemes in MP and Maharashtra appears to have prompted a change of heart. PM Modi recently assured Delhi voters that the schemes introduced by the AAP government would not be discontinued if the BJP comes to power in the capital.