Bengaluru (Aryavarth): As days pass, the question of whether Delhi will be placed under President’s rule becomes more pressing. On a recent Friday, Delhi Education Minister Atishi announced that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is plotting to enforce President’s rule in the capital.
Senior AAP figure Dilip Pandey has accused the BJP of trying to simulate a constitutional crisis in Delhi to justify their goal of establishing President’s rule. This concern comes on the heels of three major blows to the AAP’s control in Delhi: the High Court’s refusal to grant bail to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the resignation of Minister Raaj Kumar Anand due to policy disagreements on corruption, and the termination of Kejriwal’s aide Bibhav Kumar by the Vigilance Directorate related to a 2007 case.
These incidents have undoubtedly placed AAP in a difficult position both legally and politically. These challenges follow a brief boost when senior leader Sanjay Singh was released on bail in the excise policy case, revitalizing the party. His first words after release were “Jail ke taale tootenge” (the locks of jail will break), rallying the party around him as they prepare for upcoming national elections.
Nevertheless, AAP will need a robust strategy to navigate upcoming political challenges. They accuse the BJP of attempting to dismantle the party and its leader Kejriwal, aiming to elicit sympathy from the electorate through a strategy of “action and reaction.”
Political analysts suggest that the decision to invoke President’s rule is complex. Abhay Dubey, a professor at the Centre for Study of Developing Societies, noted that governing post-President’s rule presents greater challenges than merely creating administrative obstacles, referencing the adverse impact on the BJP in the 2015 elections when Delhi was under Lieutenant Governor’s administration.
The BJP is proceeding with caution, considering the complexities of ruling an administration where AAP has been entrenched for nine years. The upcoming Supreme Court hearing on Kejriwal’s plea for release adds another layer of urgency to the political dynamics in Delhi.
As the BJP deliberates its next move, the political stakes are high with the general elections approaching. The outcome of Kejriwal’s court appeal will significantly influence the political tactics regarding the potential imposition of President’s rule. Meanwhile, both parties are escalating their public campaigns.