Bharatiya Janata Party
The opposition BJP started its campaign with the Parivartan Yatra, highlighting the corruption of the AAP government. [47] Key issues used by the party includes controversy regarding Sheesh Mahal, liquor policy, and Yamuna river pollution. Later prime minister Narendra Modi officially launched the party campaign at a rally in Rohini, where he criticized the government on issues of water shortages, pollution etc. as well as calling the government an "Aapda" (transl. Disaster). [48]
Manifesto
The BJP's election manifesto focused on welfare, governance, and anti-corruption measures, targeting women, senior citizens, and underprivileged communities. The manifesto promised to implement the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, providing ₹2,500 per month to women, along with ₹21,000 and six nutrition kits for pregnant women under the Matri Suraksha Vandana scheme. [49] The BJP pledged to increase pensions for senior citizens, widows, and destitute women, while introducing subsidies for LPG cylinders and free cylinders on Holi and Diwali. Additionally, it proposed establishing Atal Canteens to provide affordable meals for ₹5 in slum clusters. The manifesto also emphasized continuing all existing welfare schemes, including free electricity for households consuming up to 200 units and free DTC bus rides for women, while vowing to eradicate corruption and implement Central government schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana which have been blocked by the incumbent AAP government. [50] [51]
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress announced that it would hold a month-long Dillī Nyāya Yātrā in November (transl. Delhi Justice March) to attack the state and central governments on issues such as pollution, inflation, unemployment, and garbage disposal. [52]
The yatra was launched by Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on 8 November [53] and was to cover all seventy assembly constituencies in four phases. [54] The first phase of the yatra was launched in Rajghat on 8 November 2024 and ended in Shalimar Bagh on 13 November, covering 15 assembly constituencies. [55] The second phase of the yatra started from Gokulpuri in North East Delhi on 16 November until 20 November, covering 16 assembly constituencies. In the second phase, party chief Yadav highlighted sanitation, problems faced by daily wagers and hawkers as the main issues plaguing Delhi. [56] The third phase started from Valmiki Mandir at Palam village on 22 November. [57] The party accused the AAP state government of failing to resolve basic problems, such as supply of dirty water, increased electricity bills, long wait for ration cards and pension for beneficiaries in the 10 last years. [58] The march concluded on 7 December 2024. [59]
Delhi PCC chief Devender Yadav criticised Kejriwal for promising ₹2,100 per month to Delhi women, saying that the AAP had failed to fulfil its promise of giving ₹1,000 per month to women in Punjab. [60]
Manifesto
The Congress party announced that it would provide universal health insurance to all Delhi residents covering costs up to ₹25 lakhs, akin to the Right to Health Act it passed in Rajasthan during its rule in the state. [61] [62]
On January 6, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced the Pyari Didi Yojna, a proposed scheme that would provide financial assistance of ₹2,500 per month to women in Delhi, should the Congress party come to power. He highlighted that this initiative would be modeled after the Gruha Lakshmi scheme implemented by the Congress government in Karnataka, which he said benefited 1.22 crore women in the state. He further claimed that all guarantees made by the Congress in Karnataka were met within three months of taking office. [63] [64]
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