Touted as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pilot project Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan, the BJP failed to promote initiatives and did not highlight the achievements of Municipal Corporations in the poll campaign for the 2015 Delhi Assembly elections which cost the BJP dear.
The party which has been ruling MCD for the past so many years didn’t reflect on any issues in its vision document while pitching for the polls while even the councillors kept mum on their achievements. At least 10 municipal councillors, including current Mayor and three former Mayors from the BJP-led corporations were fielded in 2015 Delhi Assembly poll.
Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan, the project that was undertaken by PM Narendra Modi who wielded the groom to give India a new image. But the project never found its mention in the vision document or during BJP rallies.
“BJP leadership took Delhi Assembly elections quite personally and therefore forgot to highlight the positives undertaken by the MCD. This proved the party costly and failed to connect the issues with the masses,” said an official.
While highlighting BJP’s achievements at the Centre, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted opening of bank accounts under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, but the leaders didn’t mention about opening of nearly 40,000 bank accounts of school students by South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC). The councillors fielded by the candidate also didn’t highlight these achievements throughout the campaign.
After undertaking the massive cleanliness drive, the BJP failed to take advantage of improvised sanitation conditions in the capital. “Among other things, the level of garbage in the capital, if not much, has certainly increased a bit. The party didn’t dwell upon these aspects during the poll campaign,” said an official.
Former North Delhi Mayor Azad Singh was fielded by BJP, Deputy Chairman of Standing Committee of the NDMC, Rekha Gupta tried her luck from Shalimar Bagh. EDMC’s Standing Committee Chairman BB Tyagi was fielded by the BJP from laxmi Nagar. Besides, Prabhu Dayal is contesting the Sultanpur Marja (SC) seat as a BJP candidate.