Community-centric approach & focus on polling booths paid rich dividends

LOTUS BLOOMS IN CAPITAL

- SIMONTINI BHATTACHARJEE

The resounding victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi Assembly polls after 27 years signals the beginning of the end of the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) dominance in the national capital, where it had come up as a formidable force with a strong and loyal voter base.

The AAP, which previously held 62 seats with a vote share of 53.57 per cent, saw a sharp decline this time, reduced to 22 seats with a vote share of 43.6 per cent. This dramatic shift in political power and the triumph of the BJP with 48 out of 70 seats in its kitty is a testament to its meticulous micro-management strategy and extensive grassroots network.

The BJP's success can be attributed to its relentless focus on each polling booth and voter list. The party set ambitious vote targets for each Assembly constituency and leveraged the extensive grassroots network of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) to implement a booth-by-booth strategy. Months of groundwork involved scrutinizing voter lists, adding new voters, and removing fake or obsolete entries. Special attention was paid to voters who no longer resided in specific booth areas but remained on the rolls.

This meticulous approach ensured that the BJP's voter base was both accurate and expansive.

Understanding Delhi's diverse demographic composition, the BJP adopted a community-centric approach, deploying leaders from different states to engage with voters from various backgrounds.

Senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari spearheaded meetings in Bengali-dominated areas, while former MP Harish Dwivedi coordinated campaigns targeting Purvanchali voters from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Jharkhand.