As Delhi prepares for its upcoming elections on February 5, Organiser’s Senior Assistant Editor Nishant Kumar Azad spoke with the National Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and in-charge of the Delhi elections, Lok Sabha MP Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda. In this candid conversation, Panda discusses the party’s key policies for the national capital, election strategies, and vision for the future. Excerpts:
One of the major announcements in the recent budget is that income up to Rs 12 lakh will not be taxed. This has come as a relief to the salaried and middle-class population. Do you think this move will help BJP gain more support in this election, especially among the middle class, which has sometimes felt neglected?
Of course, it will help, but let me clarify that BJP is a party for all Indians, across every class and section of society. Our slogan, Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, reflects our commitment to inclusive development. Over the past decade, India’s economy has transformed significantly. Inflation was high and growth was slow when the Modi government first took office. Now, we are the world’s fastest-growing major economy. We have moved from being the fifth-largest economy to soon becoming the third-largest. We have done a lot for all sections of the society. More than 25 crore people have been pulled out of poverty. We are making the third largest ecosystem for startups.
This economic progress benefits all Indians. This budget has provided a major boost for the middle class. The tax relief will increase disposable income, leading to higher consumption, which in turn fuels economic growth. Additionally, this budget includes significant measures for gig workers, auto and cab drivers, delivery boys and domestic workers. The response from the people has been overwhelmingly positive.
The BJP has undertaken multiple initiatives and achieved significant milestones. If the party comes to power in Delhi, what will be its top three priorities apart from the commonly discussed Bijli, Paani?
Everyone talks about policies, but BJP delivers on its promises. Let me highlight three crucial areas we will focus on:
Women Empowerment – In the 1980s, the then Congress Prime Minister used to say that whatever the government spent only 15 per cent used to reach people. We have revolutionised the way government benefits reach people through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), eliminating corruption. Initiatives like Ladli Behen Yojana, Subhadra Yojana, and similar programs in multiple states have empowered women. Delhi will also see similar benefits under BJP rule. People know that if it is in the BJP’s Sankalp Patra and it has PM Modi’s guarantee, then it will happen. Compare it with this AAP’da or disaster that has taken over Delhi. This party also made similar promises and tried to copy us. Using these promises in Punjab, they cheated the women there by promising Rs 1000. They made these promises for Delhi women also last year and have cheated them.
Infrastructure Development – Unlike the current government, which has ignored essential projects, we will revamp Delhi’s public transport system. DTC’s fleet will be tripled to 13,000 buses, all of which will be electric, reducing both congestion and pollution. Delhi has not seen infrastructural development in 10 years. All over the country, the number of airports have doubled, the metro rail system has more than doubled. Delhi has not seen the state government doing any developments. Condition of roads, flyovers, sewers is pathetic. Delhi doesn’t look like the national capital.
Healthcare and Ayushman Bharat – Delhi has been deprived of the world’s largest health program, Ayushman Bharat, because the AAP government refuses to implement it. If we come to power, we will not only implement it but will also enhance the coverage from Rs 5 lakh per family to Rs 10 lakh, like we have done in other states.
Our main promise is to provide Delhi – a conflict free government. We will work hand in hand with the Centre, instead of blaming and making wild claims like Yamuna is being poisoned by BJP. We will not indulge in playing victim, we will give double engine benefit to Delhi.
The Yamuna River remains a major issue in Delhi. Does the BJP have a concrete plan to clean it?
Absolutely. Look at the transformation of the Sabarmati River in Gujarat under Modi Ji’s leadership—it is now a world-class waterfront. Whether it is for the commercial purpose or the tourism purpose. The same will be done for Yamuna. Especially the Purvanchali population of Delhi who revere Yamuna, it is a matter of great concern. AAP has spent thousands of crores over the last decade claiming to clean it, but nothing has changed.They have been giving false hope that their leader will take a dip in Yamuna but that has not happened but we are committing that this long promise of dubki will happen when BJP will come in the to power. We will ensure a genuine cleanup and development of the Yamuna riverfront.
I was on the ground in Burari, and I noticed a perception among people there that the Lieutenant Governor (LG) is obstructing the AAP government from functioning smoothly. Many residents believe that AAP’s work is being deliberately hindered. How do you respond to this?
This is pure propaganda spread by AAP to cover up their inefficiencies. They have spent the last decade blaming others instead of delivering results. The LG has no power to stop them from accepting Rs 70,000 crore in central government funds for infrastructure development. The Central Government has repeatedly sent letters urging them to sign agreements to receive these funds, but they refuse. Even the High Court has questioned them on why they are not utilising these funds.
AAP’s entire strategy revolves around playing the victim while mismanaging public money. They engage in corruption and then cry foul when they are caught. Their governance is all about optics, not real development. Instead of investing in essential infrastructure, they have been busy with publicity stunts. This blame game and playing victim is a typical urban-naxal strategy that they are implementing. The freebies that they announce is only a way for them to make money. Delhi’s people deserve a government that works for them, not one that constantly seeks excuses for its failures.
Do you really think that the corruption issue and anti-incumbency are quite enough to throw this government out?
There is a lot of anger against this AAP government because they raised false hopes among people. The middle class believed they were a breath of fresh air, but now they are shocked. For instance, we talked about the Sheesh Mahal—have you heard of the Bose music system? It’s a very expensive system, and most people might own one, but they had six dozen Bose systems installed! People are appalled at such extravagance.
Similarly, for poor people living in slums, they have been promised clean drinking water for over 10 years, yet even today, a poor person in a jhuggi has to buy drinking water from a tanker mafia. There is real anger among the people over these issues.
Speaking of anti-incumbency, there is such high resentment that several senior AAP leaders had to change their constituencies because they were staring at certain defeat. Even after changing their seats, they are still facing the same backlash and are likely to lose.
A significant portion of Delhi’s population lives in slums and JJ colonies. These voters have traditionally supported AAP. What is BJP’s strategy to gain their trust?
BJP has been working on the ground for months. Every Sunday, thousands of our workers meet slum residents, listen to their concerns, and explain our vision. AAP has deceived them for a decade. They still rely on tanker mafias for clean water, live with overflowing sewage, and face deteriorating infrastructure. We will change that with transparent governance and real development.
There is a third party in Congress, and they have ruled the state before. But in the last two elections, we have seen how badly they performed. I just want to ask you, how do you see Congress in this election? Because we have seen that some of their leaders are working very hard.
For Congress, this election is a battle for survival because their presence in Delhi has been gradually diminishing. They have tried every option, including aligning with AAP in the last Lok Sabha elections. Despite that, they could not succeed. In fact, the combined opposition was defeated by the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, where we won all seven seats.
Congress is no different from AAP. They have made promises in Himachal, which they did not fulfill. They made promises in Karnataka, which they failed to deliver on. And they have no principles. AAP started by accusing Congress of corruption and swearing that they would never align with them. Yet, within days of their first election, they allied with Congress. So, they have tried fighting separately, they have tried aligning—nothing has worked.
This time, there seems to be some desperation in their attitude. You see some big names, such as Sandeep Dikshit and others, trying to make an impact. After years of decline, they are realising that they are fighting for their very existence. But in the BJP, we take nothing for granted because Congress and AAP may join hands again after the election. From one AAP, they could easily become a ‘Double AAP’ for Delhi.
That’s why our strategy is clear—we are reaching out to all sections of people, and we are targeting more than 51 per cent vote share. We don’t want to just win; we want a decisive mandate so that even if the opposition unites, it won’t matter. Our vote share has been steadily increasing, and even in local elections, the gap has significantly narrowed. Now, after all these AAP leaders have gone to jail, they can no longer claim to be ‘kattar imaandaar’. People have lost faith in them, and BJP has now gone ahead of them.
Recently, several AAP MLAs resigned and joined BJP. Do you think this will impact the election results?
The people of Delhi had already made up their minds to support BJP long before these MLAs joined. However, BJP remains the world’s largest political party with over 13 crore members. It is natural that honest leaders from other parties want to align with us.
On one hand, the BJP is saying that the economy of Delhi is crumbling because of these freebie policies. In Maharashtra, too, we have seen that the government had to cut down some expenses to fulfill its promises. Here in Delhi, where the economy is already in a fragile condition, how is BJP going to manage the promises it has made?
There is a lot of propaganda about these issues, and there’s a lot to unpack in this question. Let me break it down.
Firstly, in the last decade, Bharat’s economy has become the talk of the world. We have been the fastest-growing large economy for many years, creating jobs, expanding infrastructure, and lifting 25 crore people out of poverty. At the same time, we are still a developing nation, so welfare programmes are necessary. But there is a major difference between what BJP does and what AAP does, and that difference is in economic planning and corruption.
Any welfare scheme that BJP implements is thoroughly vetted to ensure it fits within fiscal deficit norms. Just last week, NITI Aayog released a report on the fiscal health of states. The best-performing states in terms of fiscal health are those where BJP has governed for at least five years.
Now, coming to Delhi. AAP has been in power for 12 years. Why is the economy in a mess? Because in the name of welfare programmes, they have looted the system. The Delhi Jal Board has been involved in scams worth thousands of crores, and there has been no audit for eight years. That’s why people still don’t have access to clean drinking water. The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is another example—massive scams, and today, only one-third of the buses required are operational. They’ve looted the liquor policy, education sector, and even mohalla clinics, where fake medicines were found, and children lost their lives.
BJP’s approach will be completely different. Firstly, there will be zero corruption in welfare programmes. Across India, we have implemented schemes worth lakhs of crores without any corruption. Secondly, Delhi’s fiscal condition is weak because AAP is deliberately not utilising thousands of crores in central government funds. For example, under Ayushman Bharat, 51 lakh people in Delhi are not getting benefits because AAP refuses to implement it. Similarly, Rs 70,000 crore in infrastructure funds from the central government remains unutilised. Why? Because they fear that if they take central funds, Modi ji will become even more popular. This is petty politics at the cost of public welfare.
When BJP comes to power in Delhi, our governance model will focus on three things: fiscal discipline, corruption-free welfare, and full utilisation of central government funds. Delhi’s economy will recover overnight once this loot and mismanagement end.
Historically, BJP has struggled to get votes from the Muslim community. How is the party addressing this?
BJP governs without discrimination. We do not engage in vote-bank politics. We have introduced reforms that benefit Muslim women, such as the Triple Talaq law. Gradually, more people from all communities are realising that BJP stands for development and justice for all.
AAP and Congress leaders have recently started visiting temples and promising benefits for Hindu religious communities. How do you view this shift?
This is mere election gimmickry. These leaders have previously incited riots and opposed the Ram Mandir. Now, they pretend to respect Hindu sentiments for votes. People see through this hypocrisy.
How many seats do you expect BJP to win in this election?
The enthusiasm among our workers and the public’s anger against AAP suggest a decisive victory. We expect a comfortable majority, and the trend indicates we may even surpass a two-thirds majority.
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