AAP debacle cheers BJP, Congress

The two parties consider ‘favourable’ DUSU results as sign of revival in the city

September 14, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:33 am IST - NEW DELHI:

The DUSU election results reflect a dip in Kejriwal's popularity.— Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

The DUSU election results reflect a dip in Kejriwal's popularity.— Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

It may not have any bearing on how politics unfold at the State and at the national level but the results of the recently concluded student union election in Delhi University and affiliated colleges have triggered celebrations in the camps of two traditional rivals, the BJP and the Congress.

It was the first time the DUSU election actually turned into a three-corner fight and the two established student organisations, ABVP and NSUI, had a tough challenge in the form of CYSS, the student wing of Aam Aadmi Party. And it was the first time since the parent parties of the three student organisations were involved in a proxy fight since Assembly elections early this year.

Down and out after their disastrous performance in Assembly elections early this year, the two political parties consider “favourable” DUSU results as their first sign of revival in the Capital. A day after the results were announced, senior party leaders of both the parties huddled together and deliberated on their future strategy.

Much to the relief of the BJP, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad managed to win and retain all four seats. The BJP was handed out a major drubbing by AAP in Assembly elections, as its seat tally had reduced from a decent 24 to just three in a matter of just 12 months. The AAP had enjoyed a huge support from the youth and the idea of the formation of Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti, its student wing, had germinated from the same fact. The CYSS and AAP had expected a similar response in DUSU elections as the latter had received in Assembly elections in February this year.

Though National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, failed to win even a single seat in DUSU, it managed to pip CYSS, as its candidates came second on three of the four seats. The NSUI managed to get 22.35% votes while backed by AAP, political greenhorn CYSS got 16.41% votes in its debut election.

“It was our first test since the debacle in Delhi assembly elections early this year and the kind of response that we have got clearly indicates that we are on course of revival,” a senior Delhi Congress leader said. “Our vote share has gone up from just nine per cent in assembly elections to 22%, which is definitely a good sign.”

The BJP and the Congress are upbeat about DUSU elections for reasons. One, the CYSS election campaign largely relied on the performance of AAP government in Delhi in the last six months and the charisma of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The CYSS posters and banners had the names and ballot numbers of its contestants but the photograph of Chief Minister. The election results reflect a dip in Kejriwal's popularity.

Second, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia “relaunched” the educational loan scheme by giving away cheques to a few students in a big function organised at secretariat just two days before polling clearly targeting the student community and the transport minister launched a new University special bus about a week before.

The students saw through AAP's populist moves, senior leaders believe.

Third, the CYSS' internal pre-poll survey gave the debutante more than 45% votes while giving just nine per cent votes to NSUI. However, the CYSS was nowhere close to the vote share it had predicted. Though AAP leaders patted their back for scoring more than 16 per cent votes in debut election, the result exposed their lies severely denting the image of the party.

Last, but not the least, Congress believes the election results have proved that the AAP's control over youth, one of its biggest vote bank, has started eroding. “More and more youngsters come out and vote these days. The AAP had a huge support of the youth in Assembly election. But the same youth has this time rejected AAP,” said a Congress leader.

While the AAP is going to be in government in Delhi for another four years or so and municipal elections in the Capital is also a year and a half away, the biggest test for the BJP and the Congress will be the by-election to 13 municipal wards, likely to happen in next couple of months.

While both the BJP and the Congress accept they will have to work really hard to win the by-elections, given the way the AAP swept the Assembly polls only a few months ago. As for the Congress, it is the performance of AAP, which has dented the Congress' vote bank of poor and Dalits, which will be keenly watched and would decide the future of the party.

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