Usually a chaotic mix of honking rickshaws and hurried office-goers, the main road of Mahavir Enclave -the most densely populated area in the Janakpuri Constituency of West Delhi- had surrendered to the sheer volume of people on the eve of 2nd February 2024. Men in mufflers, women draped in shawls, children perched on shoulders, all eyes locked onto the makeshift stage at the center of the maelstrom. Even the mannequins in glass-fronted shops, clothed in the latest winter wear, seemed to lean in, curious about the frenzy unfolding before them.
Five hours in the unforgiving Delhi cold, but no one flinched. Why? Because he was coming. Who, you ask? Ravi Kishan: Bhojpuri star and Gorakhpur MLA. You could call him the Taylor Swift of Purvanchalis, one of the capital’s most influential voter blocs.
With Delhi heading into yet another political showdown, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces a critical question: can it finally crack the Purvanchali vote bank?
Purvanchalis constitute nearly 25- 38% of Delhi’s voting population, holding a sway in at least 25 seats, making them a decisive factor in electoral outcomes. Yet, despite ruling in Delhi’s Lok Sabha seats for years and currently leading at the Centre, the BJP has struggled to convert its larger political dominance into a clear-cut Purvanchali consolidation in Delhi.
Here’s how the party is making its latest play:
Home-State Politics: BJP’s Rule in UP & Bihar as a Selling Point
Using its governance record in Purvanchalis’ home states, the BJP’s first major strategy is selling its governance record where these voters come from. With Yogi Adityanath in Uttar Pradesh and a coalition presence in Bihar, the party positions itself as the force that has "fixed" issues in these regions.
Abhilash Pandey, MLA from Jabalpur, proclaimed at the latest Jansabha on 2nd February, “Till 2003, MP was a hellish landscape, but now the BJP has cleaned up UP, Bihar, and MP.”
Contrasting narratives to those of AAP’s track record in Delhi followed. “I look at the state of Delhi and feel ashamed. Gorakhpur? Heaven.” Ravi Kishan declared.
The pitch? If the BJP can deliver in their native states, whether it’s infrastructure, law and order, or welfare schemes, why not in Delhi?
The party has banked on flagship initiatives like Ayushman Bharat, free ration schemes, and improved roads and expressways in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Tying the idea of a ‘Triple Engine Sarkar’
Along with proposing the supposed efficiency of having the same party ruling at the Centre, parliamentary constituency, and now the legislative assembly, BJP leaders are pitching the idea of having a link to the authorities back in voters’ hometowns.
“If some problem arises in your village, who will sort it out? Ashish Bhai will.” said one of the speakers at the Sabha. (Ashish Sood- Janakpuri BJP Candidate)
The overarching idea is to create a psychological link: if their families back home are benefiting from BJP’s governance, perhaps it’s time to extend that trust to Delhi. However, the counterargument remains strong—while UP and Bihar’s development is a BJP talking point, Delhi voters have their own pressing issues: water, education, and pollution, areas where the AAP government has been aggressively marketing its successes.
The Emotional Pitch: Popular Leaders and Sentimental Appeals
If governance records don’t seal the deal, the BJP has a backup plan—emotion.
In the 2020 elections, the party pulled out all stops, bringing in Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath as crowd-pullers. This time, expect more of the same, with a sharper focus on emotional connection.
In the presence of Bihar’s Deputy CM Sinha and an arsenal of leaders native to the heartland , the crowd ooh-ed and aah-ed, and some burst into dance as Ravi Kishan hummed the tune to some Bhojpuri songs mid-speech. Meanwhile, leaders pushed an identity-based pitch:
'Who called Purvanchali colonies ‘illegal settlements’? Kejriwal!'
'Who made celebrating Chhath Puja a struggle? Kejriwal!'
Appealing to matters of identity and pride, speakers questioned how Kejriwal allegedly declared Purvanchali migrants’ colonies as “illegal settlements,” while the BJP instead aims to provide them with legal status and safety.
Attacks on how Delhi's Bihari populace was unable to celebrate Chhath Puja due to the pollution of the Yamuna cleverly linked the idea of Purvanchali pride being hurt with the pressing issues of sanitation and pollution, key concerns for Delhi voters.
To pull out all stops, leaders of the Akhil Nonia Sanyukt Sangh were also present at the Jansabha, expressing the allegiance of the Nonia community (a large Purvanchali community) to the BJP.
The AAP, however, has built its own strong Purvanchali appeal. BJP’s strategy will have to go beyond star power and prove credibility on local governance, a weak point given its past struggles in Delhi’s municipal administration.
Candidate Choices: Where Are the Purvanchali Faces?
Curiously, despite aggressive Purvanchali wooing, the BJP hasn’t consistently fielded Purvanchali candidates in key constituencies. Instead, the party often opts for local heavyweights or organisational loyalists over ethnic representation.
In the Janakpuri constituency itself, the BJP has fielded Ashish Sood, a senior BJP member and resident of Janakpuri, whereas the AAP has fielded Mahavir Enclave resident Parvesh Kumar.
Why? The strategy likely rests on two calculations: avoiding intra-community vote splits and keeping broader caste equations in check.
The BJP is aware that a wrong candidate pick can lead to infighting or unintended polarisation within the Purvanchali voter base itself. By keeping friendly rhetoric at the campaign level but balancing ticket distribution with diverse caste considerations, the BJP tries to maintain a wider electoral appeal.
But this also leaves room for criticism- how serious is the party about real Purvanchali leadership if it won’t even field them in winnable seats?
Whether or not the BJP can consolidate the Purvanchali vote this time, one thing is for certain, ‘Dilli ki haalat jhandwa toh, Kejriwal ko kis cheez ka ghamandwa' has some great recall value.