The victory in Punjab and Gujarat by -elections has come as a new ray for Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Perhaps this is the reason that now he has got the power to overcome the crushing defeat in 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. This is the reason that Kejriwal is focusing his strategy afresh in Delhi. The way the Aam Aadmi Party has become aggressive on the issues of slums in Delhi, it seems at least this.
Where Arvind Kejriwal assures the slums that many will not break their homes as long as they are alive. At the same time, the statement made during the house and employment movement organized by Gopal Rai at Jantar Mantar on 29 June 2025 is even more aggressive. He warned that if the slums were broken, people would enter and capture the Prime Minister’s residence. However, hypothesis for the slums of Aam Aadmi Party leaders is being seen as a risky strategy.
AAP’s hyperactivity for slums
AAP is trying to rebuild the slums after the defeat in the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025. It is believed that there are about 40 lakh slums in Delhi, which are close to 15-16% of the total population. The party had full support of this community in earlier 2013, 2015, and 2020 elections. The Aam Aadmi Party got 22 seats, which was much less than the 62 seats of 2020. The party feels that the reason for their defeat was made by the BJP in the core vote of the slums. Perhaps this is the reason that the party is ready to take a more aggressive stance on the issues of the slums.
On June 29, AAP led by Gopal Rai and Arvind Kejriwal in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar performed aggressively against the BJP’s alleged slum-breaking policy. Kejriwal said, as long as I am alive, no one’s slums will break. Gopal Rai has done the limit. He threatened to capture the PM residence.
The party has launched slum dialogues in various slums of Delhi. Like Tigri-1 JJ Cluster and party leaders and activists reached and met the local people. Here Atishi and Saurabh Bhardwaj strongly criticized BJP’s policies. AAP leaders alleged that the BJP government made more than 1 lakh people homeless. Along with this, where the slum, he also accused him of turning away from the promise of the house.
There can be no two opinions that the slums have been traditional supporters of AAP. It is obvious that this issue is going to work as a Ram Baan for the AAP against the BJP government in Delhi. At the least opposition, it is good to strengthen its position right now.
Can this hyperactivity be overshadowed by AAP?
Hydriety may be very heavy for the slums of AAP. Gopal Rai’s statement of Prime Minister’s residence and excluding the Prime Minister is legally risky.
Under the IPC Section 124A (treason), this statement can be considered anarchy against the government. On social media, users connected it to cases like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, where government properties were occupied. If the Delhi Police or the Ministry of Home Affairs files a complaint, an FIR could be lodged against Gopal Rai, as was in 2024 for threatening against Amanatullah Khan. This can further damage the image of AAP.
The BJP has termed Rai’s statement as a Naxalite mentality and traitor. The BJP government has already inaugurated the houses for the slums under the house scheme where the slum.
The Congress has also called the AAP movement as crocodile tears. The party claimed that the AAP did nothing for the slums during its government. Maintaining slums can portray the AAP as a chaotic party, which can remove the middle class and urban voters from the party.