It’s a do-or-die battle for the fledgling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as it is faced with a resurgent BJP riding the Modi wave. Embarking upon a strategy to reap the harvest of anti-BJP votes, the AAP has started its poll campaign across the city focusing on the voters of the minority community. They want to ensure that the minority votes are not divided in different camps.
According to a political analyst, the main battle is between the BJP and the AAP, as the Congress has lost its ground.
Emboldened by this study, the AAP volunteers and the minority cell have been asked to keep an eye on the troublemongers and report any incident of communal tension to Aman/Sadbhavna (peace and harmony) Committees or the party headquarters. Wooing the voters of the minority community, especially Muslims, is now a priority for AAP.
In a recently-held informal party meet at Patel Nagar office, it was decided that all those in charge of the Assembly seats will now meet the heads of all the minorities, including Sikh, Jain, Christian and Muslims, to address their problems. Wary of BJP’s political approach, AAP volunteers have started campaigning in all minority-dominated areas such like the Walled City in Central Delhi, Jamia area in South-East, Seelampur, Jafrabad, Shahdara, Seemapuri, Nand Nagri in North-East Delhi and Trilokpuri area in the East Delhi. Trilokpuri, in particular, has been in the news for the recent communal flare-up which needed concerted efforts by the Delhi Police to control the situation. Although AAP was quick to accuse the former BJP MlA Sunil Vaidya for fomenting trouble, the Delhi Police reports are at variance with the party.
The AAP workers also embarked on a door-to-door campaign, appealing the minorities to vote for the AAP party while other political parties, including the Congress, appear to be rather marginalised.During its campaign, the AAP pamphlets caution the minorities of a brewing conspiracy to divide the Muslim votes. Reminding them of the steps taken by the 49-day AAP Government, the party claims that none of the Governments have acted for their welfare except them.
Attacking the Congress for its “failed secularism,” the AAP has appealed that “by voting for the Congress, the Muslims would strengthen the BJP,” states AAP campaign pamphlets, published in Urdu and Hindi.
“Our only goal through this is that the environment of communalism should not reach Delhi,” said Shakeel Malik, AAP minority wing vice-president. “Muslims were unable to get a clear image of the party and they voted for the Congress,” he added. The party, however, is emboldened now as all seven Muslim-dominated constituencies of Delhi did not support the Congress but voted for AAP in the lok Sabha polls, despite Imam Ahmed Bukhari of Jama Masjid openly appealing them to vote for the Congress.