Ahead of Delhi Assembly poll, AAP and BJP pull out all stops to woo auto drivers
As the Delhi political arena heats up in the run-up to the crucial Assembly election, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are both busy wooing auto-rickshaw drivers of the city.
In fact, there is a buzz that a couple of auto drivers may get party ticket for the 2025 Delhi Assembly election.
Though auto drivers have been considered supporters of AAP since the days of the anti-corruption movement from which the party originated in 2012, the saffron party, too, is actively courting AAP with personal interactions with the key voter base -- auto drivers.
Wooing auto drivers
In a bid to bolster grass-roots support, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced several guarantees, including a Rs 10-lakh life insurance cover, for auto-rickshaw drivers.
He also had lunch at the house of an auto driver.
A day after, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva met auto drivers at the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station. Criticising Kejriwal’s “hollow promises”, Sachdeva made several promises to them, like free school education for children, life insurance cover, housing and auto-rickshaw stands.
Faced with anti-incumbency, corruption charges and a resurgent Congress and the BJP, the ruling AAP seems to be aware of the challenges in these elections.
At the core of AAP’s strategy has been welfare measures and grass-roots support, which it is trying to rebuild, reinforce and recreate with the group supporting it since the party’s inception.
It is this key that the BJP is trying to wrest with outreach and promises of a better future.
On-road influencers
There are said to be around 93,000 auto-rickshaws in the city.
In November 2011, the Supreme Court had passed an order to allow only one lakh three-seater auto-rickshaws to ply in Delhi.
In July 2024, the apex court refused to entertain a plea filed by Bajaj Auto seeking an increase in the upper limit on the number of auto-rickshaws allowed in Delhi.
So one is the number of auto drivers operating these vehicles, who along with family and friends can make a solid vote base.
Their organised strength is another added factor.
Auto’s middle-class outreach
An auto is a vehicle synonymous with the middle class and an ideal on-road influencer.
The auto-rickshaw is a common form of transport from which the AAP derives its strength and name “aam aadmi” (common man).
The AAP’s electoral debut in 2013 saw auto drivers playing a key role, with posters featuring Kejriwal and ‘jhadu’ (AAP’s election symbol) and catchy slogans.
Notably, when Kejriwal invited auto drivers to his residence, he talked of his “old and deep relationship with them”.
“No matter what the times were, we always supported each other. Their challenges and hard work always inspired me. We always worked for them and will continue to work for their convenience in the future as well,” he said
As far as auto drivers are concerned, it was all about the respect and recognition they received from Kejriwal. “Till date, no one has given us as much respect as Kejriwal,” an auto driver was quoted as saying after the meeting.
