The BJP survey found that local issues, particularly power, water supply and corruption are on top of the mind of Delhi’s voters. A surprise element in the report is the gains forecast for the Bahujan Samaj Party, in terms of voteshare, if not seats. This is particularly true of the Sadar area, the constituency of Delhi BJP chief Madan Lal Khurana.
The survey recommends that the BJP draft Union parliamentary affairs and health minister Sushma Swaraj into its campaign to counter Dixit’s appeal. The Sushma magic had, however, failed in the last Delhi elections (which elected Dixit), when she was hastily brought in as the chief minister, replacing Sahib Singh Verma, to counter the onion crisis and the Congress. However, this time the anti-incumbency factor favours the BJP. The importance of Delhi in the BJP’s scheme of things is evident from the number of local leaders who occupy top posts in the party or the government—Outer Delhi MP Sahib Singh Verma, New Delhi MP Jagmohan and Chandni Chowk MP Vijay Goel are in the council of ministers, while V.K. Malhotra, Anita Arya and Khurana occupy top party posts (Khurana is also Delhi Metro Rail chief).
