How AAP’s biggest vote bank was dented quietly

The RSS played a key role in mobilising the voters and creating a buzz on the ground around local issues.

(RSSFACTS is a column that demystifies the functioning, organisational structure and ideology of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.)

Bharatiya Janata Party’s victory in Delhi assembly polls was an outcome of ‘Back to the Basics Approach’. The party didn’t experiment with a high-octane campaign on national issues, nor did it thrust a chief ministerial candidate at the last moment. These two factors have been BJP’s undoing in the past.

Strictly local 

BJP stuck to the basics by fighting elections on local issues. It was also able to pin down the AAP stalwarts by putting strong candidates in their constituencies.  The party also took a conscious decision not to field its state unit president and several other key leaders as they were given the task of running the party campaign.

BJP also focused in a major way on Jhuggi Jhopri clusters and women. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's credibility proved to be a major advantage for the BJP when it came to attracting the women voters and lower income groups.

Meanwhile the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) played a key role in mobilising the voters. The mandate of RSS remained the same as it was in earlier elections. Its cadres motivated people to go out and vote for the ‘best’ candidate and the best ‘party’. However, during the interactions with common people, the RSS cadres raised a number of issues and asked the voters to think about them before they go out to vote.

In most parts of Delhi, this mobilisation by the RSS cadres was done under the banner of ‘Save Delhi Campaign’ and the tagline was ‘Shat-Pratishat Matdaan Karein, Behtar Delhi, Behtar Bharat’(There should be 100 per cent voting, Better Delhi, Better Bharat).

RSS identified 10 issues for intense focus

RSS cadres had identified 10 broad categories around which all the meetings were held with locals across Delhi. These were-Sanitation, Clean Water, Health, Women’s Safety,  Roads, Yamuna river, Air Pollution, illegal immigrants, sewage system and employment.

Some specific issues were raised by the RSS cadres at the ground level during the localised meetings. The first issue was that the Yamuna river has become worse during the last 10 years. The next issue was the ‘water crisis’. The RSS functionaries conveyed to the voters that ‘more than 43 per cent residents of Jhuggi-Jhopri clusters’ have to buy potable water from either water tankers or they have to buy bottled water.” This visibly created a huge dent in JJ clusters and swayed a significant chunk of lower income group voters away from AAP.

The next issue that RSS cadres raised was that ‘70 per cent of the patients are compelled to go to private hospitals.' This also created a huge impact silently in the lower income groups as the much-hyped Mohalla clinic model of AAP was largely dysfunctional in Delhi. In addition the RSS cadres also conveyed that ‘Pradhanmantri Ayushman Yojana’ that could have helped the common people to reduce the financial burden of hospitalisation is not implemented in Delhi.

The last key issue discussed by the RSS cadres with common people was ‘to make Delhi terror free and riots free. And to ensure this, there is a need to protect Delhi from anarchists and anti-national elements,’ conveyed RSS cadres to common people.

There were some additional issues that RSS cadres raised kicking off a positive debate on 'development' which ultimately benefited the BJP. These issues were ‘planned urban development, affordable housing, all-inclusive development model, Use of technology and innovations to improve efficiency of government apparatus in Delhi, preserving the cultural heritage of Delhi and ensuring dignity and safety of women.’

Mobilisation without overt targeting

RSS cadres didn’t mention either AAP or Congress during this whole campaign. The focus was on creating a positive buzz around issues related to development. There was no name calling, no political statements made by any RSS functionary. The RSS functionaries spoke less and listened more. They sought feedback by listening to what people had to say on different issues. This 'ear to the ground' brought valuable feedback which also helped the BJP to fine tune its overall campaign as well as raise relevant issues at local level.

Interestingly, no RSS functionary was visible on any of the BJP’s polling booth tables on the day of polling or counting. There were specific instructions that no RSS cadres should be sitting as BJP agents on any political booth. The booths were managed by the BJP leaders and workers while the buzz on the ground was created by the RSS cadres.

Meanwhile, it is important to mention here that during the campaign, one often tends to see claims that the RSS has supported a particular candidate or the RSS has conducted a survey regarding the number of seats that BJP would be winning. The RSS doesn’t support any candidate specifically. Neither does it conduct any election or political surveys.  In fact, it doesn’t even ask voters to vote for any particular party. The RSS creates awareness about the key issues on the ground and asks people to choose accordingly.

Its cadres are able to do it effectively as they work on the ground 365 days a year. They are informally connected to the people at the local level. They are seen with respect even by their ideological opponents due to the discipline, selflessness and commitment for serving the society and nation building. That is why their presence often creates a difference.

Earlier RSSFACTS columns can be read here.