Sat Oct 05 07:40:33 UTC 2024: ## Delhi’s Aam Aadmi Party Embraces ‘Hindutva-Lite’ Ahead of Elections

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), led by Arvind Kejriwal, is making a strategic shift towards a more Hindu-centric approach in the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections in 2025. This move, described as “Hindutva-lite,” is seen as an attempt to capture both Hindu voters dissatisfied with the BJP’s aggression and those who perceive the Congress as “Muslim appeasing.”

The shift is evident in the actions of the party’s new Delhi chief minister, Atishi. Despite declaring herself a caretaker until Kejriwal’s return, she has engaged in overt displays of religiosity, visiting Hanuman temples and promoting “patriotism” in schools. This strategy mirrors Kejriwal’s own embrace of Hindu symbolism, including his declaration of being a “Hanuman Bhakt” and the party’s installation of a temporary Ram Temple model.

Analysts believe that the party’s calculated embrace of Hindutva, devoid of violence and aggression, is a bid to win over disillusioned Hindu voters. This strategy allows AAP to maintain its image of providing modern education, welfare policies, and good governance, while appealing to a wider religious demographic.

However, this shift has raised questions about the party’s initial anti-corruption platform and its commitment to secular principles. Furthermore, the strategy’s success hinges on several factors, including the outcome of the upcoming Delhi elections, the Congress’s potential independent participation, and the future of the BJP without Narendra Modi at the helm.

With the elections just months away, the Aam Aadmi Party’s embrace of “Hindutva-lite” is a gamble with potentially significant implications for the future of Indian politics.

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