'Jhaadu', 'Kamal' or 'Haath' - which election symbol will Delhi vote for on February 5? The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress are locked in a triangular contest, with the odds stacked against the Grand Old Party. The key battle is between the AAP and the BJP with both offering a bevy of freebies and schemes in their manifestos, promising to implement them if voted to power.
Free electricity, cash transfers to women, free bus rides, scholarships for students, pensions, and healthcare benefits for the elderly - the promises have every section of society covered. With the Union government's massive announcement for the middle class in the Union Budget on Saturday - no tax will be imposed on incomes up to Rs 12 lakh - the BJP appears to have gathered momentum. The party has not only made a significant appeal to the salaried middle-class segment, but has also outdone Arvind Kejriwal's demand for the tax exemption limit to be raised to Rs 10 lakh.
While both parties emphasise welfare initiatives like free electricity, cash transfers for women, and healthcare benefits, their approaches differ in scope and scale. What will appeal more to Delhi's voters? Here are five factors that are likely to play a decisive role.
70