5 Issues That Hold Key To Delhi Durbar

It's a high-stakes triangular contest.

- Gulam Jeelani

This will be the first election in Delhi since BJP swept the Lok Sabha polls. This will also be the first election in the country since the party faced defeat in Jharkhand last month.

While AAP hopes to retain power on its ‘performance’, BJP and Congress are determined to put up a spirited challenge. AAP is banking on populist schemes and ‘work to boost education and health facilities’.

BJP is hopeful that the Modi government's decision to grant ownership rights to occupants of unauthorised colonies will help it win what is seen as AAP’s support base. BJP is also expected to make the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) a poll plank. Congress sees resurgence, especially after the results in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

But despite what the parties think and say, much of the capital contest might be decided over certain factors. What are likely to dominate electioneering, voting and possible results are issues such as rising prices, student protests, Kejriwal vs Who, cleanliness-pollution and traffic-transport.

1 RISING PRICES

Rising prices of essential commodities including vegetables, cereals, pulses, edible oils, flour, bread, butter and LPG cylinders have thrown household budget in Delhi haywire at the beginning of 2020. Onion was already making people weep.

Already reeling under price rise, consumers received a New Year shocker with the petroleum marketing companies increasing the prices of LPG cylinders.

Residents said that prices of onion, milk and pulses were already on a high and now packaged foods such as oil, butter and bread have also become dearer by 20-30%. Prices of cereals, pulses, cooking oils and vegetables (potato, onion and tomato) are skyrocketing too.

“Every day I go to the market, I see prices of food items increased. My monthly budget has gone up by 25%,” said Ashika Bhargava, a resident of Indira Enclave.