Did Delhi really choose garbage?

Speculations of the EVMs being tampered cannot be easily rubbished as the politics revolving the city is beyond mere practice of adult franchise

Without delving much into the jargons of numbers and simply sticking to what might have led to AAP’s poll debacle in the recently-concluded Delhi Municipal Corporations’ elections, the only question that arises is whether Delhi rejected Arvind Kejriwal’s ‘alternative politics’ or not.

However, it is also worth scratching heads a bit to spend time on thinking whether the party’s claims that the result is “an EVM wave” has any meat or not.

What went so wrong?

It is untrue to say that the results were unexpected; more so as the bugle of defeat for the AAP was blown ever since the results of the by-elections of the Rajouri Garden constituency was out. That the wind was blowing towards saffronisation was clear as the AAP had to lose its candidate’s deposit as well.

Apparently, the questions posed on EVMs being tampered are foolish and baseless but if the Delhi elections of 2014 and 2015 are to be considered, then it is these Delhiites who voted for a change and brought the AAP to power. Then what went so wrong in just two years?

It is hard to believe that the people of Delhi chose garbage and brought back the BJP to run the already cash-strapped MCDs reeling under political weight.

Having stayed for sometime in Delhi and possessing very little knowledge about politics, I would like to narrate a few things that I had seen in the city. During my stay between 2015 and 2017, the city on two occasions saw filthy garbage pile-ups. The safai karmacharis of the BJP-led civic bodies were out on the streets, protesting for their dues to be cleared. Filth spread across the Capital and the stench of a political battle was unbearable with the MCDs claiming non-payment by the AAP-led Delhi government and the latter bringing out papers about its clean image.

However, amid this ruckus, the ones suffering were the common people of the city. From covering one's nose to walking tip-toe while passing by one such garbage pile-up, Delhiites were irritated with the state of affairs and I had personally, not as a scribe, spoken to many who blamed the MCDs of mismanagement. Allegations like embezzlement of funds, non-payment of dues, policy failures and the like had plagued the Corporations. In short, people were angry and agitated over the state of affairs and primarily blamed the BJP-led civic bodies.

Cut to 2017, the mood seems to be completely opposite. No matter what, it is hard to believe that the people of Delhi ensured an emphatic victory for the BJP. I remember how the public mood was during the garbage crisis. I know how it was during demonetisation and now, believing in such numbers is really hard. It is these people who chose AAP to power in 2015 and now, in just two years they are voting out the AAP?

My friend said it correct to some extent that the public of Delhi seems to be more fickle-minded than the Romans in Julius Caesar. He was partially correct till the time I reminded him of the allegations raised by the politicians about the EVMs being tampered.

I guess, there should be a thorough probe just to check the veracity of the allegations and also to make people like us believe in the numbers that make me gulp it down with a pinch of salt.

Delhi politics is very different from the ones in the rest of the states of the country. An important place, the Capital city is such that dominion over the city is expected by all for obvious reasons. The way the AAP was uncovering the hidden ‘samjhoutas’ between the industrialists and the BJP, especially the nexus with the power discoms, it was obvious that the BJP wanted the AAP to be removed from power. In pursuit of that, nothing, even EVM tampering does not seem to be mere ranting.