Delhi’s Election: All Parties Target Slum Voters

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Delhi is currently witnessing one of the toughest electoral battles in its history. The upcoming assembly elections are expected to witness a fierce contest between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress. What makes this election unique is that all major political parties have shifted their focus toward winning the support of slum voters. Let’s understand why slum voters are crucial in this election and the strategies political parties are employing to win them over.

Importance of Slum Voters

Slum dwellers in Delhi form a significant voter base. Around 15% of the capital’s population lives in slum areas, which can directly influence the electoral outcome. These voters usually belong to the lower-income group and are particularly concerned about basic amenities such as water, electricity, healthcare, and education.

Gaining the support of slum voters is crucial because they tend to have a higher voter turnout. Their alignment with a particular party can potentially alter the election results. This is why all parties are making extensive efforts to win over this section of the population.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Strategy

In the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections, AAP garnered massive support from slum dwellers. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s promises of “free electricity and water” along with improvements in education and healthcare resonated strongly with this demographic.

This time, AAP’s strategy seems even more aggressive. The party has promised to provide permanent homes to slum dwellers under the “Jahan Jhuggi, Wahan Makaan” scheme. Additionally, AAP is highlighting its achievements in improving Mohalla Clinics and government schools.

AAP’s Key Initiatives:

Assurance of continued free electricity and water.
Expansion of slum rehabilitation schemes.
Promise to increase the number of Mohalla Clinics.
Direct engagement with voters through camps in slum areas.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Strategy

The BJP is preparing to challenge AAP this time around. The party’s primary focus is on providing slum residents with the benefits of national schemes. One of BJP’s key strategies is to offer homes to slum dwellers under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY).

Additionally, the BJP has made major promises regarding water scarcity and sanitation in slum areas. The party’s leaders emphasize their goal of integrating slum dwellers into the “mainstream of development.”

BJP’s Key Initiatives:

Providing homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Promoting free ration distribution and the Ujjwala scheme.
Improving sanitation and providing clean water to slum areas.
Reaching out to voters through local leaders.

Congress Strategy

Once the ruling party is in Delhi, Congress will attempt a comeback in the upcoming elections. Although the party is considered weaker this time, it is focusing on slum areas to rebuild its support base.

Congress is emphasizing employment and healthcare for slum dwellers. The party claims that while AAP and BJP only make promises, Congress has already implemented several schemes for slum residents during its rule.

Congress’s Key Initiatives:

Promising employment guarantee schemes.
Assuring improvements in healthcare services and the condition of government hospitals.
Special pension schemes for slum dwellers.
Door-to-door campaigns through regional leaders.

Use of Social Media in the Election Campaign

Social media has emerged as a powerful tool in this election. All parties are utilizing platforms to reach slum voters.

AAP’s Social Media Campaign:

Promoting its work through videos and graphics.
Engaging with slum residents via WhatsApp groups.

BJP’s Social Media Campaign:

Sharing success stories of national schemes.
Propaganda on Twitter and Facebook.

Congress’s Social Media Campaign:

Reminding voters of its past achievements.
Using videos and memes to attract voters.

Key Issues and Challenges

Winning over slum voters is not as easy as it sounds, as these areas lack basic facilities.

Key Issues:

Water scarcity: Clean water remains a major challenge in slum areas.
Sanitation: Garbage and waste management remain persistent problems.
Education and Healthcare: There is a need for improvements in the condition of government schools and hospitals.
Employment: The lack of permanent jobs is a major concern.