Another Stolen Election – A Masterclass in Political Theft and Vanishing Promises

 

Another Stolen Election – A Masterclass in Political Theft and Vanishing Promises

Griffith Asia Insights: Revisiting India’s growth slowdown: How bad is it?

Another stolen election, another masterclass in electoral deception, where every branch of government magically aligned, bankrolled by a select group of businessmen in collaboration with the BJP government, and voilà—the results were neatly tucked into BJP’s pocket. The playbook remains the same: make grand promises before the elections, then immediately pretend they never happened once the votes are counted.

The person that I have been chatting with claims that she works for the BJP IT cell and is a huge defender of the Modi government. She does not feel bad when her party uses money, power, and other methods to undermine the opposition parties, something she believes is what Rajneeti is all about, a term that describes a time of kings and dictators in Indian history. So, when these people continue to live in a period inspired by mythical books, they have elevated Modi into a god-like figure, a leader who has come to save them, almost as if these people are part of a cult. The truly dangerous part is that the BJP leadership has placed these hardcore cult members in positions of power, a terrifying reality for any democracy.

For the BJP, election promises are not commitments—they’re just strategic noise, well-placed sound bites to bait voters. Now that the mission has been accomplished, why bother honoring them? The voters have served their purpose, and now it’s time to return to business as usual—privatization, policy rollbacks, and ensuring corporate allies get the best deal possible.

But let’s make a few bold predictions on what’s about to unfold in Delhi under BJP rule. The real reason the BJP wanted Delhi so badly is that Delhi’s state government serves as a window to the central government’s failures. With AAP at the helm, every corruption scandal of the BJP at the national level had an easy route to being exposed. This was never just about governance; it was about silencing opposition in the capital. Now, with Delhi under their control, the BJP will execute a carefully calculated blueprint—one that delivers just enough to keep the illusion alive while ensuring most people lose. They will claim they "kept their promises," while in reality, the majority of Delhiites will suffer under their policies.

Let’s take the now-infamous ₹2,500 per month promise for women. Sounds great, right? Except now, the fine print has conveniently appeared—this wasn’t for all women, but only for those who meet a qualification process stricter than a government tender. According to the BJP IT cell, families must not own a mobile phone, not own an e-bike, and earn below ₹15,000 per month to qualify. How convenient that none of these restrictions were highlighted during the campaign. What was once hailed as a universal benefit for women's empowerment has been skillfully converted into a selective handout for an insignificant minority.

And then there’s the “five times better governance” promise, where BJP MP Manoj Tiwari emphatically declared that Delhi residents would receive five times the benefits they got under AAP. But now, BJP’s official stance is: “Five times? Who said five times? Must be a misunderstanding.” The newly updated BJP strategy manual is simple—deny, backpedal, gaslight, and hope the public forgets.

The real problem for BJP? Winning Delhi may have been their biggest strategic miscalculation. Unlike other states, where policy failures can be quietly buried, Delhi is India’s political and media nerve center. Every governance disaster, every policy failure, and every broken promise will now be scrutinized under a national spotlight. And if AAP plays this right, BJP’s so-called victory in Delhi could turn into an unrelenting PR nightmare, exposing the hollowness of their governance model not just in Delhi, but across the country.

Schools will be quietly put up for sale, with AAP’s education reforms dismantled under the guise of restructuring. Expect mass privatization, with schools mysteriously losing funding and their quality declining, only to be handed over to private corporations with BJP ties. Healthcare will suffer the same fate, as BJP begins gutting the funding for Mohalla Clinics, gradually privatizing healthcare, and redirecting taxpayer money into the hands of its corporate healthcare allies. The funds that were once used to provide free medical services will conveniently disappear under the banner of “reforms,” while citizens will pay more for lower-quality healthcare.

Electricity and water benefits will also start disappearing, despite the BJP’s promises of five times better subsidies. AAP gave 200kW of free electricity and 400kW at half price, which by BJP’s own promise should now be 1,000kW free and 2,000kW at half price. Instead, expect massive subsidy rollbacks in the name of “economic stability.” Water subsidies will also be conveniently restricted, ensuring that only BJP’s loyal voters continue receiving benefits, while everyone else is quietly removed. Government services will soon be tied to Aadhaar, making sure that only BJP’s voter base continues to receive essential benefits, while those who did not vote for them might find their rations, subsidies, and public assistance magically disappearing.

What’s happening here isn’t governance—it’s corporate cronyism wrapped in political propaganda. BJP’s real goal isn’t development, progress, or public welfare—it’s about ensuring its billionaire backers receive public money in the most efficient way possible. And they do this while keeping the masses distracted—whether through religious tensions, caste politics, or misleading nationalism. This formula has worked so well that the BJP has successfully turned democracy into a controlled marketplace, where the highest bidder wins, and the people lose.

In a recent conversation, a BJP IT cell worker from Northern State proudly claimed that she gets zero electricity bills because she has solar panels from Adani. When I pointed out that Delhi’s power grid is about to be sold to Adani, her response? “What’s wrong with that? I have Adani solar panels, and they work great.” Ah, the perfect confession. Delhi is indeed being put on sale—one public service at a time. Everything Kejriwal warned about is unfolding in real time, and soon, the poor and middle-class residents of Delhi will bear the brunt of these corporate takeovers. Those who sold their vote for a few thousand rupees will soon realize the true cost that will haunt their monthly expenses for years.

And, of course, the BJP’s unmatched hypocrisy is on full display. Modi, who once mocked Dr. Manmohan Singh for “wearing a raincoat in the shower,” was last seen posing in a bright red uniform, taking a dip in the Ganges. The irony is delicious. Right-wing leaders worldwide have one common trait—they always accuse their opponents of exactly what they do.

As corruption tightens its grip, and media, bureaucracy, and the judiciary remain firmly in BJP’s pocket, the real question remains: Will AAP and the opposition finally rise to the occasion and fight back? This is no longer just about Delhi—it is about the very survival of Indian democracy. The loss of Delhi, Haryana, and Maharashtra—all elections that many believe were stolen through electoral manipulation, suppression of opposition, and state-sponsored interference—should serve as a wake-up call for opposition parties. The time for isolated fights is over; the only way forward is unification under the INDIA Bloc to challenge the growing authoritarianism of the ruling party.

Regardless of personal opinions on Rahul Gandhi, he has at least demonstrated a willingness to collaborate with various opposition leaders, positioning himself as one of the few figures capable of bringing together different political factions. If the opposition parties are serious about working for the people of India, they must set aside their egos and draft a comprehensive, people-first agenda. It is no longer enough to simply oppose the BJP—they must clearly outline their vision for governance, economic reforms, and institutional accountability.

More importantly, the opposition must institutionalize their unity. Instead of forming fragile alliances that collapse under pressure, they must hold internal elections to select a leader of the INDIA Bloc—someone who can be held accountable and serve as a credible face of the movement. If they are serious about saving democracy, they must go beyond electoral deals and form a structured, national-level coalition that operates as a legitimate alternative to the BJP.

The question is no longer whether the opposition will unite—it is whether they will do it in time. If they continue divided and leaderless, the BJP will tighten its grip on every democratic institution, ensuring that future elections are even less transparent and more controlled. But if they act decisively, form a structured coalition, and present a clear vision for India’s future, they may just prevent the country from sliding further into one-party rule.