As Delhi gears up for the February 5 elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces its toughest challenge yet against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a hopeful Congress. With corruption charges looming and anti-incumbency sentiments rising, the stakes are high for the parties. AAP is banking on welfare schemes – old and new – and its “developmental” record in the upcoming elections while facing BJP.
Congress has promised its own set of welfare schemes, not too different from the AAP’s promises: 300 free units of electricity for all residents; LPG cylinders at Rs 500 each for economically weaker sections; free ration kits every month for every family, including rice, sugar, cooking oil, grains, and tea; Rs 2,500 monthly allowance for women under the Pyari Didi Yojana; health insurance of Rs 25 lakh for all Delhi residents; Rs 8,500 monthly stipend for educated but unemployed youth and placement in local industries for jobs.
The BJP has been out of power in the national capital for over 27 years. The BJP’s vote share in Delhi in 2013 polls was 33.1 per cent, 32.2 percent in 2015 and 38.5 per cent in 2020. The number of assembly seats, however, went down drastically – from 32 in 2015 to 8 in 2020. The party won all seven Lok Sabha seats in the national capital in the last three parliamentary elections but with a reduced margin in all the seats.
The subtext of the BJP campaign is largely communal. The template of hatred and division set during the 2020 elections against the backdrop of the historical anti-CAA movement has been further bolstered through propaganda against Muslim shrines, invoking the bogey of illegal Bangladeshis, and persistent localized attempts at communal polarization.
In the face of the danger posed to the people of Delhi by the resurgent BJP it is lamentable that none of the parties seem keen to address core issues of the people at a structural level. These include issues such as the decline in the rationing system, back breaking inflation, unemployment especially among the youth, failure to implement the minimum wages, deteriorating law and order in Delhi, and rising crimes against women etc.
These issues have been raised in the joint manifesto issued by the Left parties: CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML), RSP, Forward Bloc, and CGPI. CPI(ML) is contesting two seats as part of the joint Left panel. Comrade Anil Kumar Singh is contesting from Narela while Comrade Amarjeet Prasad is contesting from Kondli. In addition to the Left parties, a range of citizens’ groups (National Alliance of Climate and Ecological Justice, Shehri Adhikar Manch), climate groups (Save Dwarka Forest, People for the Aravallis) and informal sector unions (Gig Workers Association, Delhi Gharelu Kamgar Sanghatan) have issued a charter raising these issues.
Joint Left manifesto
It is from a clear understanding that the ruling parties have failed to fulfil the interests of the citizens of Delhi, the Left parties aim to bring real issues such as the decline in the rationing system, back breaking inflation, unemployment especially among the youth, failure to implement the minimum wages, deteriorating law and order in Delhi, and rising crimes against women etc, to the forefront of this election. The Left parties aim to implement pro-people policies such as better public hospitals, quality free education, social welfare pensions for unorganized sector workers above 60 years of age, and housing for SC/ST and other marginalized groups.
As elections approach, the RSS is attempting to divide society on religious lines, diverting attention from the failures and corruption of the Modi government and other BJP-led states. The Left parties are committed to expose these failures and corruption before the public. In June 2023, through an ordinance the BJP scuttled the powers of the elected Delhi government in favour of a handful of bureaucrats led by the Lieutenant Governor disregarding the right to govern the Delhites. This has severely impacted welfare schemes, increasing the hardships of Delhi’s residents.
It is also time to hold the AAP government accountable for its decade old tenure. It is essential to scrutinize Arvind Kejriwal’s promises, assess what has been achieved, and understand where he has fallen short. In this context, the Left parties have resolved to take their alternative policies through the Delhi Assembly elections. The working people, living in slums, rehabilitation colonies, and unauthorized settlements with minimal facilities, are struggling for survival.
Democratization of Administration
Grant full statehood to Delhi with full protection for linguistic and ethnic rights of people from all states.
Decentralized and expanded municipal services as against the present single MCD.
The present bureaucratic NDMC will be replaced with an elected body.
Transfer powers to urban local bodies.
Employment
Legislate for an Urban Employment Guarantee scheme and would provide unemployment allowance.
Special drive to fill all government vacancies.
Extend social security schemes for workers.
Social Security
Ensure a minimum income for every unemployed individual.
Expand social security for informal sector workers. The present Social welfare pensions (@ 2500 per month) which reaches only 8.28 lakh families (senior citizens (old age pension), widows, women in distress) will be ramped up to cover all unorganised sector workers above 60 years and include household work of women. This will be increased to Rs 10,000.
Public Distribution System
Would immediately restore the original ration card numbers of 35 lakhs which was reduced by half due to various exclusion criteria of the Central government in 2014. Universalize the ration distribution system.
Introduce portable ration cards for migrant workers.
Would expand the basket of items (sugar, daals, salt, spices, edible oil etc) available at ration shops. Add essential items to the ration list.
Take strict action to curb black marketing.
Workers and Employees
Implement and enforce a monthly minimum wage of Rs. 26,000.
Provide labour law protections to all workers. The four labor codes will not be implemented.
Industrial safety will be ensured throughout Delhi NCR.
Extend social security to unorganized sector workers.
End contractualization in all forms.
Land, Housing and Basic Amenities
Social and rental housing for economically weaker sections. Hostels will be constructed.
Rehabilitate and regularize slums. Regularise all unauthorised habitations or in-situ rehabilitation and provide all basic amenities.
Implement a rehabilitation plan for all JJ clusters by providing basic amenities (water and electricity) to start with and leading to pucca houses/flats either constructed at the same locality or adjacent having cheap transport facilities.
Ensure basic amenities for all habitations.
Water Supply
Ensure piped supply of potable standard water to all households. Curb the water mafia and privatization.
Adopt decentralized water management.
Connect all households to the sewerage system.
Use modern and scientific methods for solid waste management.
Clean and improve water quality of Yamuna.
Transport and Pollution Control
Expand public transport, reduce metro-fares, and promote electric vehicles. A cap will be imposed on private vehicles.
Develop new policies to regulate private vehicle numbers.
Create safe infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
Education Reforms
Strengthening Government Schools: Prioritize infrastructure, recruitment, and training of teachers. Remedial classes will be conducted for weak children.
Halt the merger of schools and launch campaigns to reduce dropouts.
Control Private Schools: Implement fee regulatory mechanisms in both schools / colleges and increase accountability.
Ensure strict compliance with the Right to Education Act in private schools.
Guarantee free and quality education for all, from primary to higher education.
Introduce special education schemes for disadvantaged communities and children with special needs.
Introduce more arts, science and technical education institutions and regulate fees for self-financing courses in government sector.
Ensure reservation for SC/ST.
Health Services Expansion
Strengthen Mohalla Clinics with technical and financial support.
Build a three-tier public health system.
Increase the number of government hospitals and bed capacity.
Regulate private hospitals with strict oversight and price control. Cap on private hospital fees, drug costs, tests, ‘doctors/surgeons’ charges and strictly enforce 20% beds for EWS patients.
Secularism and Diversity
Foster the syncretic culture of Delhi, build communal harmony, amity.
Expand education, health, and civic amenities for minorities.
Preserve communal harmony and cultural diversity.
Abolish CAA/NPR/NRC.
Take strict action against those spreading communal hatred and check activities of communal organisations.
Scheduled Castes/Tribes/OBCs
Enforce reservation in all institutions and ensure job reservations in the private sector.
Provide financial support for traditional occupations.
Conduct a caste census.
Ensure funds allocated for SC/STs in the budget are spent on their welfare. Will ensure plan funds commensurate with population for SC/ST and will avoid all ‘notional’ expenditure.
Will abolish manual scavenging and sewer cleaning.
Women
Increase employment opportunities for women and ensure equal pay.
Control crimes against women.
Provide crèche and toilet facilities at workplaces.
Ensure implementation of Visakha / Verma committee guidelines in all institutions / workplaces.
Crime
Bring the police under the state government. Break nexus between police and politicians.
Offer better salaries to police personnel.
Speed up the judicial process.
