As voting concludes for the Delhi assembly election, all eyes are now on the big verdict day. Voters today sealed the fate of the candidates, results of which will be out on February 8. However, as soon as polling ended, TV screens were bombarded with Exit Poll numbers. The poll to predict who is likely to form a government is now out and is being widely discussed and debated.
As per the Poll of Polls, BJP is all set to form a government in Delhi after a long gap of 27 years. Most survey agencies have predicted that Lotus is set to bloom in the capital city on the verdict day.
However, there’s always a question of credibility attached with these exit polls- and it comes with a health warning- these are not actual results and exit polls have gotten the trends very wrong in the past few elections.
However, in 2013, while pollsters correctly predicted a hung Assembly, they underestimated AAP’s number game. The two subsequent assembly elections held in 2015 and 2020 saw exit polls predicting AAP victories, which eventually happened. However, in the last two assembly polls, survey agencies failed to understand the massive sweep trend of Kejriwal’s party.
There are 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly and the majority mark is set at 36.
Parties contested the polls with a barrage of promises for all sections of the society. For women, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) promised Mahila Samman Yojana that would provide Rs. 2100 to women. It also promised to continue free bus rides for women and start the same for students.
Similarly, Congress has put forward the Pyari Didi Yojana that commits to providing Rs. 2500 for empowering the women of Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was also not behind in this race. Its Mahila Samriddhi Yojana promised to provide financial assistance to women from poor families with Rs. 2500 per month. The BJP has also attempted to bring about paid maternity leaves for domestic workers. Besides, they also promised scholarships for students.
In terms of health, AAP prioritised the domain for its core voters under the scheme The Sanjeevani Yojana. This speaks broadly on giving free treatment for senior citizens (regardless of their socio-economic status) in all the hospitals, be it government-run or privately owned. The Congress promised to support all citizens with lifelong health insurance which is up to Rs. 25 lakhs. The BJP came up with Chief Minister Matritva Suraksha Yojana which promised to offer Rs. 21,000 for pregnant women along with six nutritional kits.
The Aam Aadmi Party promised to bring in Dr. Ambedkar Samman Scholarship. It tends to help out Dalit students who aim to pursue higher education in foreign universities. The Congress Party promised to grant Rs. 8,500 per month to youth who are educated but are unemployed. This amount would be used for their skill development so that they can secure job opportunities.
The Aam Aadmi Party also came up with Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana. Under this scheme, it guarantees to assist Rs.18,000 to granthis and pujaris. The scheme “Tirth Yatra” by the Congress Party tends to bestow free pilgrimages to Buddhist sites. The BJP has a wide range of ideas for uplifting cultural dimensions. They aim to commence special festival trains for Purvanchali migrants along with the Central Government. They have set the larger pictures for sikh communities that include Rs.100 crore to major gurudwaras, giving honorarium of Rs. 20,000 per month to all the granthis of all the gurudwaras of Delhi.
Electricity is like a bait game in Delhi. Every party plays on this card. The AAP thinks of continuing the benefits of free water and electricity to voters. The Congress promised to give 300 units of free electricity. The BJP aimed to review and decrease electricity tariffs for commercial institutions. Similarly, The BJP has decided to provide free electricity under PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, especially to poor households.
LPG Cylinders are a vital aspect of the current kitchen story. The Congress Party vowed to offer subsidised cooking gas at Rs. 500 per cylinder and a free ration kit. The BJP made similar promises of giving LPG cylinders at Rs. 500 and moving one step ahead with one free cylinder during the festivals of Holi and Diwali.
Delhi has a major population of middle-class and lower-middle-class families. The Economic Survey of Delhi throws light on the wide range presence of the middle class. The Aam Aadmi Party promised to give financial aid and accident insurance up to Rs.15 lakh for auto drivers. They will also be given Rs. 1 Lakh for their daughter’s marriages, as per their manifesto. AAP is likely to form a welfare board for dhobis and security aid for Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs).
Congress wants to increase the incentive for auto-rickshaw operators to transit to electric rickshaws. The BJP aimed at trying to form welfare boards for auto, e-rickshaw, and taxi drivers with life and accident insurance. It also has a mission to give ownership rights under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. It will also try to give resolution of sealed shop issues in six months, it said.
Delhi has faced various environmental crises because of massive climate change, and global warming. The Aam Aadmi Party’s manifesto mentioned targeting and resolving all the sewer-related challenges, if it comes to power once again.
Similarly, Congress has also claimed to introduce effective water sewage treatments such as Sewage Treatment Plans, decentralised sewage Treatment Plants, and interceptor sewers. The Congress has an agenda to clean and revive the River Yamuna. They desire to eradicate encroachments on both sides of the Yamuna River.
The BJP will aim to develop the Yamuna riverfront and Mahabharat Corridor to boost tourism. It also promised to renew water treaties in 2025 to meet the water needs of Delhi, in collaboration with Haryana.
