Gujarat Assembly elections | AAP’s promise of ‘Delhi model’ piques curiosity, stokes debate in BJP stronghold
The HinduCan the Aam Aadmi Party entice Gujarat, known for its mercantile culture, with the promise to replicate its “Delhi model” of administration and a slew of other incentives is a question bothering both its rivals, the Congress and the BJP, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in the State. The AAP’s approach has broadly generated two kinds of responses among voters — one set finds these “guarantees” appealing but is not sure whether the AAP will be able to win to deliver them; the second section is viewing the promises with suspicion over the possibility of tax hikes to fund the social welfare schemes. Subash Patel, who owns a wholesale textile shop at Surat, sees the AAP’s “Delhi model” as functional and viable. Harshad Wagehla, who runs a photo studio at Ghoghadar village near Junagadh, waves off the AAP’s promises saying, “Gujarat mein free ka kuch nahi chahiye.” His neighbouring grocery shopkeeper Shailesh Patel steps in to say, “Didn’t the BJP promise ₹15 lakh in our accounts?