As the high voltage election campaign comes to an end in Delhi on Thursday, hectic last minute power games are underway between leaders of various political parties.
While no leader is willing to air their grievances in public, most prefer a silent operation where they can effectively deliver a body blow in the last few hours before polling.
The last leg of campaigning saw a chastened Iron Bedi who even shed tears, while the aggression was left to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lift the BJP campaign against AAP's disruptive yet effective campaign. But now the battleground shifts within, where all political parties have to ensure that the entire process of converting their goodwill into concrete votes does not get affected. Infighting is nothing new for any political party, but for BJP, which prides itself on disciplined cadre, faces a tougher challenge than AAP or Congress on this front.
There are almost 12-19 seats where the candidates selected are perceived as being "weak" in comparison to their opponents. Little wonder the BJP had to fall back on its organizational strength by roping in 120 MPs and 20 Union Ministers who have addressed around 250 rallies in the capital.
The royal ignore to Dr Harsh Vardhan and projection of Kiran Bedi as the chief ministerial candidate has made an easy one-way contest in Krishna Nagar look tough for the saffron party. Recent incidents have highlighted the ire of BJP supporters over Kiran Bedi's high handedness. Move over to Shakur Basti assembly segment and the feeling is almost similar. BJP chose former Congress MLA Dr SC Vats rather than a BJP worker. "How can we support and campaign for someone whom we have been opposing for the past 20 years" says a BJP worker. "We are a disciplined lot so we will abide by the high command's decision, but don't expect us to vote for him" he confides.
While in East Delhi's Patparganj, Manish Sisodia of AAP has walked away with the advantage when BJP decided to give a last minute ticket to Vinod Kumar Binny who had won from Laxmi Nagar on an AAP ticket in the last elections. "BJP had very bright chances here, but they have given the ticket to an outsider (Binny)" says Manish Rajora, resident of Mandawali. "If they had repeated Nakul (Bhardwaj), BJP would have managed to beat the second in command of AAP hands down" he adds.
While the BJP is busy putting its house in order, other parties too are firefighting within. There are 7-8 seats where AAP is facing a similar problem. Differences were out in the open when former Rohini MLA Rajesh Garg disrupted AAP's meeting last month. RK Puram seat too has been in the limelight for the wrong reasons, as AAP has fielded former independent councilor Promila Tokas known to have close links with BJP.
Back in the walled city, Congress may have bet on veteran MLA Shoaib Iqbal who joined the Congress recently but it hasn't gone down well below the ranks. Many traditional Congress supporters are said to be in touch with AAP's Asim Khan who remains the only option against the BJP. "This is a unique election because the voters seem to have made up their mind on whom to vote for" says Tarit Prakash Director of Voters Mood Research who has travelled extensively through most 70 assembly segments. "People don't want a hung assembly and I didn't meet anyone who seems confused. These things never happened in Delhi before" he confides.
Despite this assessment, each candidate is now busy doing last minute calculations. The olive branch extended to possible sympathizers in other parties will now be put to test, and the eternal hope of being able to turn things around runs high. It is this aspiration that plays a key factor in making them burn the midnight oil.
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