Parties dangle goodies to woo Dehli voters, brush off concerns about funding

Aam Aadmi Party, which has ruled the state for a decade, is facing its toughest election yet

- Nirmala Ganapathy India Bureau Chief

NEW DELHI - Whoops of delight went up from the crowd each time Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced campaign pledges at a Jan 22 election rally in Trilokpuri, a congested locality in east Delhi.

"I will give my sisters in Delhi 2,100 rupees (S$33) every month! Free bus travel and a 50 per cent (discount) on metro for students! Free electricity-water benefit for tenants!" the social activistturned-politician declared.

The crowd, comprising mainly supporters and some curious onlookers, cheered and waved brooms the AAP's party symbolas Kejriwal ran down his list of freebies and welfare schemes he promised to implement if the party is returned to a third consecutive term in power.

In the lead-up to Delhi's state assembly election on Feb 5, political parties appear to be in a race to outdo one another as they dangle a dizzying array of goodies to win voters over.

The AAP, which has ruled the state for a decade, has also promised Hindu and Sikh priests a monthly honorarium of 18,000 rupees, and an unspecified cap on private school fees, among other things.

The announcement of welfare schemes and freebies is seen as a bid to counter anti-incumbency sentiment, especially after its leaders including Kejriwal, who is campaigning for the New Delhi seat while out on bail - were caught up in corruption charges that he and his party have denied.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long criticised the AAP for fostering a "freebies culture" in Delhi.

But that has not stopped the BJP, which won eight of the 70 assembly seats in 2020, from jumping on the bandwagon.