Ok, I need to correct a factual error in my previous post: clearly BJP, despite being the ruling party of India, is not the most popular political party in Delhi. As it turns out from the election results, which were released today, BJP is more like that unpopular kid who somehow snuck into the cool kid's house party because today, in a massive coup, 67 out of the 70 possible city parliamentary seats (sort of like our state senates, I guess) went to the newcomer AAP (Aim Aadmi Party). As one of my friend's put it, the entirety of the Delhi elected BJP block can now show up to official functions driving one Tata Nano car.
AAP really is the new kid on the block--having formed in just 2013(?) it's not yet a national political party. But the fact that it has totally swept Delhi elections in just its infancy does speak well for its national prospects--presuming, of course, that Arvind Kejriwal, the new Delhi chief minister (read: governor) and his 67 parliamentarians make good on their platform of anti-corruption and women's safety. Delhi, as the capital city, looms large in the minds of most Indians so, to almost quote Frank Sinatra, if AAP can make it here, they can make it anywhere.
Poor Modi. Not one full year in office and his party is already getting thrashed by the new kid.* As one of my colleagues pointed out, this could really be seen by a (Delhi) referendum on him because, as you guys can see from the picture in my last post, BJP almost entirely ran based on his image. Most Indians I've spoke to seem not too critical of Modi though, so maybe that's reading a bit much into it.
Anyway, here's hoping AAP really can bring about the change they've campaigned on. Who wouldn't want a less corrupt and safer city?
* Actually, the real losers of the day were the Congress party, which is the other major national party. The Congress party has been in power for the last 15 years, I think, and has basically descended into being a family run business--the family, of course, being that of Indira Gandhi. Everyone I've spoken to seems to agree that the Congress party is hopelessly corrupt and inefficient--so good riddance.
AAP really is the new kid on the block--having formed in just 2013(?) it's not yet a national political party. But the fact that it has totally swept Delhi elections in just its infancy does speak well for its national prospects--presuming, of course, that Arvind Kejriwal, the new Delhi chief minister (read: governor) and his 67 parliamentarians make good on their platform of anti-corruption and women's safety. Delhi, as the capital city, looms large in the minds of most Indians so, to almost quote Frank Sinatra, if AAP can make it here, they can make it anywhere.
Poor Modi. Not one full year in office and his party is already getting thrashed by the new kid.* As one of my colleagues pointed out, this could really be seen by a (Delhi) referendum on him because, as you guys can see from the picture in my last post, BJP almost entirely ran based on his image. Most Indians I've spoke to seem not too critical of Modi though, so maybe that's reading a bit much into it.
Anyway, here's hoping AAP really can bring about the change they've campaigned on. Who wouldn't want a less corrupt and safer city?
* Actually, the real losers of the day were the Congress party, which is the other major national party. The Congress party has been in power for the last 15 years, I think, and has basically descended into being a family run business--the family, of course, being that of Indira Gandhi. Everyone I've spoken to seems to agree that the Congress party is hopelessly corrupt and inefficient--so good riddance.
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