New Delhi: Most of the exit polls surveys on Saturday have predicted a comfortable majority in Delhi for the AAP, which was formed in 2012 after a popular anti-corruption movement led by Kejriwal and activist Anna Hazare.
If the exit polls prove right on the counting day, Arvind Kejriwal, the anti-corruption activist-turned-politician and founder of the Aam Aadmi Party, will become the state's next chief minister. Kejriwal has held this position once before, after the 2013 state elections in Delhi when his party, which was then contesting its first-ever election, won 28 of 70 seats.
Certainly, AAP's resilience and bounce have led political pundits groping to explain what has made the party such a formidable contender in the Delhi Polls. Here are some factors that have worked in his favour:
‘Messiah' for the ‘underclass'
Arvind Kejriwal has emerged as no less than a ‘Messiah' for the city's underclass. Industrial workers, unorganized sector laborers, petty shopkeepers, traders, shopkeepers, small-scale service providers are all looking forward towards the mufflerman with high hopes. His mention of basic amenities and day-to-day concerns seem to have won their hearts.
In a population of over 1.7 crore, having around 1.3 crore voters, the capital's almost 60 per cent population is living on less than Rs 13,500 per month. This huge chunk of population is eyeing the AAP to fulfill their cause which was left unheard and even ignored earlier.
A second chance
It seems like people of Delhi are in the mood to give AAP a second chance. With this in mind, majority of people including housewives, youngsters and slum dwellers have voted for Kejriwal.
Basic amenities
For the common man, his day-to-day concerns are above everything. Growth and development of the city comes only after his monthly family budget, which is why, he preferred AAP over others.
There are housewives and other middle class people, who having witnessed the possibility of reduction in power and water rates during the 49 day government of AAP, wanted to give Kejriwal another opportunity. They have longed for lower power tariff and potable water at cheaper rates and with AAP in power they can hope to keep their household budget intact.
Muslims favoring AAP
This is one vote bank which AAP has been able to secure or let's say snatched from Congress. The community which pushed Congress to victory in eight seats in Delhi during the Assembly election last year, is dissatisfied by the party this time.
For them, AAP is turning out to be a preferred choice. The younger lot of the community is looking for jobs, better education and development of their people which, they feel, will be better fulfilled by AAP than others.
