Kailash Gahlot’s Big Gamble: Will switching sides secure his Bijwasan victory?

The counting of votes for the Bijwasan Assembly constituency commenced at 8 AM, alongside 69 other constituencies in Delhi. The main contenders are the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress. The results will influence Delhi’s political dynamics.

Early trends indicate a strong lead for the BJP in the Delhi Assembly elections. According to Times Now, BJP is ahead in 36 seats, while AAP leads in 20 and Congress in 2. News18 shows BJP leading with 30, AAP with 18, and Congress with 1. NDTV reports BJP ahead in 37, AAP in 26, and Congress in 1. India Today also reflects a BJP lead with 36 seats, AAP at 23, and Congress at 1. The numbers suggest a tough battle as counting progresses.

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Kailash Gahlot’s Political Shift and Electoral Contest

Kailash Gahlot, a former senior AAP leader and cabinet minister, resigned from the party in November 2024, joining BJP the following day. He is contesting from Bijwasan, a shift from his previous constituency of Najafgarh. His opponents include AAP’s Surender Bharadwaj, formerly with the Samajwadi Party, and Congress’s Dharmpal Chandela.

A Legal and Political Background

Born on 22 July 1974 in Mitraun village, Najafgarh, Gahlot holds multiple degrees from the University of Delhi, including Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, and Master of Laws. Before entering politics, he was a practising advocate in the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court. He has held key portfolios in the Delhi government, including transport, revenue, law, and environment.

In 2018, Gahlot was investigated by the Income Tax Department in an alleged tax evasion case. The searches were conducted at multiple locations linked to him, drawing attention to his financial dealings. Despite this, he remained a key figure in the AAP government until his resignation.

Gahlot has adopted a campaign approach distinct from many BJP candidates. Instead of focusing on corruption allegations against AAP, he emphasises governance efficiency and collaboration with the Central government.

“Maine apne experience se, as minister or MLA, pichchle 10 saalon mai jo dekha aur samjha, uske hisab se keh raha hoon (I am telling you this based on my experience as a minister and MLA for 10 years). Jo kanoon vyavastha hai, aap L-G ki sehmati ke bina ek bhi cheez nahi kar sakte (The legal framework is such that without the approval of the Lt Governor, you cannot do a single thing),” he said while addressing residents in Dwarka Sector 8.

Urging voters to support BJP, he added, “We should choose a party and government which will work with the L-G and the Central government, and not spend all the time in arguments and blame game.”

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Promises and Criticism of AAP

Gahlot has been vocal about AAP’s welfare promises, questioning their implementation. “Do you remember when the AAP said the Mahila Samman scheme would be implemented? In March last year. Did you receive Rs 1,000?” he asked a gathering, to which most people responded negatively.

He elaborated, “Delhi has a population of 2 crore, and about 50% are women. If 45-50 lakh women were eligible, the government would require Rs 5,000 crore per year. But the AAP government asked the Centre for a loan of Rs 9,000 crore. If a government is asking for loans, how will it give Rs 2,000 to every woman per month?”

He contrasted this with BJP-led states, saying, “The BJP, on the other hand, has successfully implemented the scheme and crores of women are receiving money in their accounts every month in other states.”

Bijwasan Constituency Overview

Bijwasan is one of Delhi’s 70 Assembly constituencies, established in 2008. It falls under the South Delhi Lok Sabha constituency. The constituency has been a battleground for AAP, BJP, and Congress in recent elections.

Voter Demographics and Previous Election Results

In the 2020 elections, Bijwasan had 2,01,251 registered voters. The voter turnout was 61.98%, with AAP’s Bhupinder Singh Joon winning the seat with 45.83% of the vote, narrowly defeating BJP’s Sat Prakash Rana (45.22%).

In 2015, AAP’s Col Devinder Sehrawat won with 54.99% of the votes, defeating BJP’s Sat Prakash Rana, who secured 38.46%. Voter turnout was slightly higher at 63.38%.

Gahlot’s shift to BJP and his governance-focused campaign have set the stage for an intriguing electoral contest in Bijwasan. The results will reveal whether his political move and emphasis on Centre-State collaboration can influence voter sentiment in Delhi.