Delhi elections 2015: Why Congress is rooting for the victory of arch-rival BJP

NEW DELHI: Congress is rooting for the victory of archrival BJP in its desperation to remain politically relevant in Delhi, where it was in power for 15 years.

A cross-section of Congress functionaries ET spoke to on the eve of the Delhi results, including former MPs, MLAs and backroom boys, said a BJP victory suited the party better. “We would be happy if exit polls are proven wrong and BJP wins. It suits us better than an AAP government. AAP victory means Congress would be obliterated in the Capital,” said a leader who did not wish to be identified

Congress, reduced to 8 MLAs in 2013, is staring at annihilation this time. Its trusted hands like Haroon Yusuf and Shoaib Iqbal, who had won for over a decade with convincing margins, also seem to be in a tight spot. An AAP government would mean Congress would have to re-think its strategy and re-invent itself in Delhi. A senior general secretary said, “We have frittered away our traditional votebanks to AAP. We have to look within and start from scratch. If BJP comes to power, it is better. Our politics and votebanks are different from BJP’s. We would have a chance to see whether AAP would last these 5 years in Delhi. We can also consolidate our votebanks. But AAP coming to power means it would strengthen itself at our cost.”

In December 2013, Congress and BJP underestimated AAP. Nobody could predict who would AAP harm more. But post-elections analysis in 2013 and 2014 has shown that AAP has harmed Congress more. It has weaned away Congress’ slum and Dalit voters, which have voted for Congress since Indira Gandhi’s time.