Explained: Atishi Government Highlights AAP’s Social Engineering Strategy Ahead of Delhi Elections Targeting Key Voter Groups
Keeping the forthcoming Delhi Assembly Elections in mind, the Aam Aadmi Party has attempted a social engineering so that all sections of the society are aligned to the party, that can reap rich dividends. A government led by a woman belonging to upper Rajput caste, also has a member from the OBC in Gopal Rai, a Dalit face in Kailash Gehlot and a Muslim member as Imran Hussein.
Besides, the Atishi government also has Mukesh Ahlawat, a Jat. The polling for the Haryana Assembly Election will be held soon and by inducting him, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has sent a strong signal to the community which has a large presences in the state, where his party is contesting from all 90 seats.
Gopal Rai: AAP'S OBC Face
Minister for Environment, Forest & Wildlife, Development and General Administration, Gopal Rai is from the OBC community and represents Babarpur. Testing the political water as a student leader, Rai began his career with the All India Students Association (AISA), the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. A member of the National Executive of the Aam Aadmi Party, he has been a minister since 2015.
Gopal Rai hogged the headlines for the first time when he launched the 'Mein Bhi Aam Aadmi' campaign on January 10, 2013, and continued till January 26. After losing the election from the Babarpur constituency in the election that was held soon, the OBC leader was elected as MLA and he was given the ministry of Transport and Labour.
Saurabh Bhardwaj: Close Confidante Of Arvind Kejriwal
Saurabh Bharadwaj represents the Greater Kailash constituency in the Delhi Legislative Assembly. National Chief Spokesperson Of the Aam Aadmi Party, he was the Chairman of the Delhi Jal Board and Minister of Health, Urban Development and Water. He emerged as a giant killer when he defeated BJP stalwart Ajay Kumar Malhotra, son of the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and incumbent Leader of Opposition V.K. Malhotra in 2013.
Continuing with his winning spree, the young leader vanquished Rakesh Guliya of BJP in the next election that was held in 2015. A close confidante of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, he was made a minister in the first government, though the government lasted only for 49 days.
Imran Hussain: AAP's Muslim Card
Born and brought up in Delhi, the son of the soil, Imran Hussain quit the Rashtriya Lok Dal in April 2012 and joined the AAP during the Anna Hazare Movement, that shocked the country. After being elected from Ballimaran in 2015, the Muslim face of the Arvind Kejriwal-led party was inducted into the Delhi Cabinet as a Minister of Food and Civil Supplies. He was re-elected in the 2020 to Delhi Legislative Assembly election, became an MLA in the Sixth Legislative Assembly, and now has joined the Atishi government and continues to hold the departments of Food Supplies, Forest, and Elections.
Imran Hussein went to Crescent School in Daryaganj before attending the Jamia Millia Islamia and getting a Bachelor of Business Studies degree.
Oxford University Alumnus To Rule Delhi
Atishi joined the AAP in 2013 and became an advisor to former Delhi Deputy CM & AAP leader Manish Sisodia. She participated in the Jal Satyagraha protest in the Khandwa district of Madhya Pradesh which was a part of Narmada Bachao Andolan.
She was made in charge of AAP’s Goa unit after the 2020 elections. Her rise in Delhi Politics began with her win in the 2020 Delhi Legislative Assembly election where she defeated BJP leader Dharambir Singh. She contested from the Kalkaji constituency of South Delhi.
Atishi was inducted into the Delhi government after the resignation of former Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia & former Delhi Health Minister Satyender Jain. After the arrest of AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal by the ED in the Delhi excise policy scam, she played an active role in rallying against the BJP.
As a minister in the Delhi cabinet, she held various portfolios including Finance, Revenue, PWD, Power, Services, Women and Child Development, and Education.
