Political enthusiasts had their eyes fixed on the national capital, and finally, the much-anticipated election result day arrived. After 27 years, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is making a comeback in the Delhi Assembly, while Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will now sit in the opposition. Amid all this, the Congress party has suffered its fourth consecutive defeat, pushing it further to the margins. However, interestingly, despite this loss, Congress is emerging as a "magician" of sorts, displaying a unique sense of satisfaction within the party. Some leaders, like Alka Lamba, even openly expressed this sentiment during the counting process. Senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit also shared a similar view. But what is the key takeaway from this scenario? Let's analyze it closely.
The main reason behind Congress's optimism is AAP’s poor performance. The Congress think tank has long believed that for the party to re-establish itself in Delhi, AAP’s decline is necessary. Delhi was once a Congress stronghold, but after 2013, AAP took over its voter base, causing Congress to weaken in successive elections. Now, AAP’s underwhelming performance has given Congress hope that it can reclaim its lost ground in the long run.
Congress’s strategy in Delhi has been centered around the idea that if AAP weakens, its former voters may return. This explains why Rahul Gandhi directly targeted Arvind Kejriwal in his campaign. However, this entire development could create rifts within the opposition alliance, INDIA. Some alliance partners believe that if Congress and AAP had joined forces, they could have defeated the BJP. In response, Congress clarified that AAP itself showed no interest in the alliance. Kejriwal had already declared candidates for all 70 seats, leaving no room for Congress in seat-sharing negotiations.
