Politics

5 Learnings From Maharashtra Elections For Arvind Kejriwal

AAP

Delhi has over 2.35 Lakh first-time voters as per the last count. With such a huge chunk of young voters, reaching out to social media influencers would help AAP spread their message at a time when the opposition alleges the mainstream TV media is biased towards the BJP. 

With Maharashtra and Jharkhand Elections done and dusted. All eyes are now on Delhi Assembly Elections. AAP’s national convenor and former CM Arvind Kejriwal, who had stepped down as the CM and vowed to sit back on the CM’s chair when the people of Delhi vote him back to power, has already announced the first list of 11 candidates for the 70-member assembly elections.

Kejriwal, who seeks a third consecutive term, had appealed for early polls in Delhi just like the opposition in Maharashtra had demanded early election in the state.

In this article, let’s discuss five lessons that Mr Kejriwal could learn from the results in  Maharashtra.
Learning Number 1: Not To Rely Only on Sympathy Factor

The opposition in Maharashtra, especially Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena UBT, relied too much on the sympathy factor for the party split that had occurred in 2022. Team Thackeray’s campaign majorly revolved around the party split. Which clearly neither worked in the Lok Sabha where Shiv Sena UBT won 09 out of 21 seats and Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 7 after contesting 15 seats. Meanwhile, in Vidhan Sabha Elections Eknath, Shinde’s Shiv Sena won 57 seats, 9 more than all the parties in the MVA.

Besides, Lok Sabha Elections have proved that only the sympathy factor would not benefit AAP electorally. When Arvind Kejriwal got relief from the court for campaigning, he said that your vote would decide whether “I would go back to jail or stay out.”  How did the voters reciprocate? BJP won all seven seats. INDIA alliance 0.

Learning Number 2: Win The Freebies Game

Arvind Kejriwal introduced freebie culture to Indian politics and was the first to gain direct electoral benefit from it.  Initially, when Kejriwal announced 300 units of free electricity, the BJP termed it revdi.

However, in a short span, the BJP realised that freebies could help them reach out to voters who their communal overtures would not influence.   Congress renamed it as a poll guarantee and even succeeded in some states. Now, the challenge for Kejriwal is to defeat the BJP and Congress in his own game.

Learning Number 3: More Importance To Woman Factor

Speaking to a psephologist, HW News was told that most pollsters had interacted with very few women compared to men to understand the mood on the ground, which was the major reason behind the faulty assessment.And be it Jharkhand or Maharashtra, the monthly financial aid provided to women was pivotal in the victory. Delhi currently has a woman CM, but how much of that would benefit electorally? Only time will tell.

Also Read:Rashmi Shukla Back As Maharashtra DGP

Learning Number 4: Stick To Your Narrative 

The BJP’s modus operandi is to vilify the opposition wherever it finds itself on a sticky wicket. Just like portraying Uddhav Thackeray as an anti-Hindu leader. The AAP has to ensure that it focuses on the work it has done in the last 10 years and not play on the BJP’s pitch.

Learning Number 5: Reach Out To Social Media Influencers
Delhi has over 2.35 Lakh first-time voters as per the last count. With such a huge chunk of young voters, reaching out to social media influencers would help AAP spread their message at a time when the opposition alleges the mainstream TV media is biased towards the BJP.

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