Has the Aam Aadmi Party forced the BJP to fall into its line of politics in Delhi and make a quick backtrack from what the saffron party has been saying so far on freebie politics? BJP’s Poll manifesto for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 has made it clear that the party has decided to take on the ruling party on its game plan.
Political analysts question the statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he slammed the freebie politics by calling it “Revdi ki rajneeti”
‘Revdi Ki Rajneeti’
While inaugurating the Bundelkhand Expressway on July 17, 2022, PM Modi said, “Today in our country, attempts are being made to collect votes by distributing free revdis. This revdi culture is very dangerous for the development of the country.”
On other occasions too, he accused the rival parties of promising freebies in exchange for votes.
However, the election manifesto of the saffron party is full of announcements that may easily be termed as freebies or “revdi”.
BJP Offers ‘Revdi’
From monthly assistance of RS 2,500 to women to a subsidy on cooking gas cylinders, to a pension of Rs 2,500 to senior citizens, to Rs 21,000 to pregnant women, the BJP has rolled out a slew of freebies. It has also promised to implement the Ayushman Bharat Scheme.
Earlier last month, Delhi BJP wanted to import its poll slogan for Chhattisgarh assembly elections. Taking a cue from ‘Au Nai Sahibo, Badal Ke Rahibo’, the party coined the slogan, “Ab Nahin Sahenge, Badal Ke Rahenge”. It means, “Now we won’t tolerate it, we will bring change”.
The BJP also hinted that it would target the AAP and its leader Arvind Kejriwal on the freebie politics and come out with an alternative politics, that might create more jobs and carry out development works in the national capital.
Arvind Kejriwal Hits Back At BJP
Soon the ruling party of Delhi hit back and Arvind Kejriwal said that the saffron party would reverse all of its works done earlier and close all of its welfare schemes.
It proved to be an important incident that forced the BJP to change its strategy and take on the AAP in its own game.
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In an attempt to take the air out of the BJP’s sail, Kejriwal openly said that his politics revolves around freebie politics. He said that “muft ki revdi” or freebies were essential for poor people.
AAP’s ‘Revdi Par Charcha’
He also launched a campaign called, “Revdi Par Charcha” (discussion on freebies) and said that the BJP was working against the interests of the citizens by opposing initiatives he had taken to improve their lives.
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Consequently, the BJP changed its strategy for Delhi Elections. Instead of launching a new kind of politics, the saffron party declared that it would continue all of the schemes launched by the AAP.
BJP Changes Strategy For Delhi Elections
Unveiling the Sankalpa Patra or the election manifesto on Friday, BJP National President JP Nadda said that these schemes would be strengthened to make it better.
The BJP has not only adopted the politics of the AAP, it has added a new twist to it. The saffron party has accused the ruling party of being involved in corruption and promised actions against such alleged malpractices.
BJP Surrenders To AAP?
Alleging that the mohalla clinics were dens of corruption and tools to hoodwink people, Nadda said that there was a scam of Rs 300 crore in fabricated laboratory tests.
It is clear that the BJP has surrendered to the politics of the AAP.
Polling for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 will be held on February 5 and results will be declared on February 8.
The AAP has declared that Arvind Kejriwal will be elected Chief Minister if the party wins the Delhi Elections. The BJP has not declared its CM candidate.
Arvind Kejriwal Slams BJP
Hitting back at the BJP, Arvind Kejriwal challenged PM Modi to accept that he was wrong when he said “revdis” or freebies announced before elections were “dangerous”.
Ridiculing the saffron party, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that the BJP wants to contest elections on AAP’s guarantees.
He taunted the party by declaring that he had never seen a party without any vision.
Rejecting the BJP poll manifesto, the AAP Convenor said, “If you sum up BJP’s manifesto, it says whatever Kejriwal is doing is good.”
He also claimed that the BJP appreciates his work. He went on to the extent of saying that if Delhi voters give BJP a chance, they will continue Kejriwal’s work.
