AHEAD OF LOK SABHA ELECTIONS, IS AAP IN SHACKLES? DELHI CM GOT ARRESTED? HERE’S WHY :

Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal got arrested by the ED (Enforcement Directorate) just ahead of the Lok Sabha General Elections 2024. The arrest has altered the electoral dynamics as all the opposition leaders are openly supporting him. The INDIA bloc currently is facing a lot of challenges in choosing their face, due to internal divisions and differing strategies amongst their constituent parties. Happening right before the elections, this arrest has made people question democracy.

What is happening in the elections?

The Aam Aadmi Party is a part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc with a seat sharing deal with Congress in the capital state, New Delhi along with other states. However, AAP is contesting solely in Punjab while trying to strengthen its grip in Haryana and Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest will impact the poll prospects of the INDIA bloc in the states where the AAP has influence. Accusations of crushing the democracy have yet again been made and fingers have been pointed towards the ruling party. 

As the Lok Sabha elections drew near, the flying start by the INDIA bloc last year came to a halt and started developing cracks. They were believed to be the strongest weapon against the NDA as all the opposition parties came together to put up a show of unity till things went downhill. After the beginning of the downfall, Mamata Banerjee, the Chief Minister of West Bengal and TMC head, decided that her party will contest the elections alone. Besides her, Nitish Kumar who is the Chief Minister of Bihar and Jayant Chowdhury joined hands with BJP. In conclusion, the INDIA bloc can be described as an alliance with deep cracks.

How did the Delhi CM arrest change electoral dynamics?

However, as soon as the news of Arvind Kejriwal being arrested came to light, a rare sighting of unity amongst the various opposition leaders was seen. Rahul Gandhi, the Congress is openly defending Kejriwal and said, “A scared dictator wants to create a dead democracy.” Saurabh Bharadwaj even thanked opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, MK Stalin for “the love they have shown for Kejriwal ji”. However a question of whether this show of unity will help the INDIA bloc or damage it is in talks.

The INDIA bloc parties might be openly supporting Kejriwal on the assumption of it translating into strengthening of the anti-BJP vote. The arrest might turn out to be a boon as well as it will help the INDIA bloc parties come over their differences and be united soon after TMC, JDU and RJD opted to split from the bloc. Although TMC split from the bloc, its head, Mamata Banerjee also came in Kejriwal’s support and said that it is a blatant assault on democracy. 

For once, Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest in the excise policy case will deviate the focus of the opposition alliances away from internal differences and will mobilise their cadre against the ruling party as an attempt to quash the present government. However, as mentioned time and again, it may not work in Punjab where AAP and Congress have a bitter contest. The Congress leader and members coming out to defend Kejriwal is spreading confusion among cadres of both the parties. 

The Chief Minister’s arrest also plunged India’s capital into an unprecedented constitutional crisis as it is the first ever time that Delhi’s serving chief minister has been arrested. It is also a matter of urgent importance to the democratic situation in our country as an elected Chief Minister is being arrested for the first time ever since India’s independence. However, spokespersons from AAP have also said that the leader will not resign and rather run the government from jail if needed.