NEW DELHI: The electoral setbacks for AAP candidates stemmed from various factors, including the disenchantment of middle-class voters, anti-incumbency, poor quality of water supply in residential areas, and the party not forming an alliance with Congress.
Their ongoing conflicts with the lieutenant governor also proved to be detrimental, as voters perceived it would hamper effective governance even if the party won. Some said that BJP misused the state machinery, which affected their chances.
An AAP candidate who lost the poll said: “We had very good support in the underprivileged sections of society due to free water, electricity and bus schemes. But there was anger in the middle class due to the poor condition of water in many colonies. They felt that they were not getting their due share,” he said. He said that BJP’s tax relief for up to Rs 12 lakh in the Union Budget further cemented the middle and upper middle class in their favour. “The condition of the roads was a thing that many flagged in meetings in middle-class colonies,” he said.
Sources in the party said that the frequent confrontation with the LG was also a reason that damaged the party’s image. “We often said that LG was not allowing us to work. This made a section believe that even if we win, our promises, including Rs 2,100 to women, could be blocked.”
Another AAP candidate who won said: “The BJP candidates got all sorts of help with police and other constitutional machinery.”
He said that there was anti-incumbency, especially when the party in opposition was using the state machinery to stall work. He said that if the party would have formed an alliance with Congress it could have won seats that it lost by low margins. AAP got 22 seats, while BJP bagged 48.
AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal directed AAP candidates who lost in the Delhi Assembly elections to stay connected with the people, address their concerns, and continue public service. Senior functionary Manish Sisodia stated that Kejriwal met AAP candidates and praised them for their perseverance.