Returns are huge. Worth fighting for.

Assembly elections in Delhi will be held tomorrow with the three main parties promising all kinds of freebies to capture the 'vote bank' of slum dwellers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party the BJP promises wheat flour at Rs 2 per kg, free bicycles for younger girls and free electric scooters for older ones, Rs 51,000 for marriage of poor women and free yoga lessons. The Congress promises 300 units of free electricity, unemployment benefits, Rs 72,000 for poor families and Rs 110,000 for marriage of poor women. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) promises free bus rides for women, subsidies on water and electricity, Rs 10 million for accidental deaths of sanitation workers and free pilgrimage for 1 million senior citizens. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) which operates buses has a working loss of Rs 17.50 billion in 2018-19. Earnings of DTC fell by 9% when women were allowed free travel on buses, and losses can only grow if students are also allowed free bus rides as AAP promises. Delhi is just a city, designated Union Territory in the Constitution, which was converted to National Capital Territory by the Parliament, in which law and order and land are controlled by the Central government. So why such high decibel campaigning? May be because Delhi being the capital city the diplomatic enclave is situated here and forming the government in Delhi gives second tier politicians a chance to get invited to embassy parties. The BJP brought out all its big guns, including the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of UP Yogi Adityanath who justifies shooting 19 protesters to death in his state and accuses anyone protesting against the government of being a spokesperson for Pakistan. Expenditure of Delhi government is projected to be Rs 600 billion in this financial year ending 31 March 2020, but with the AAP government spending heavily on subsidies Delhi roads are full of potholes and dirty. BJP MP Gautam Gambhir may mock Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on the condition of Delhi roads but he should remember the BJP controls all three municipal corporations in Delhi with clear majorities. A few minutes of heavy rain beings the capital to a standstill because of waterlogging. Dengue and malaria regularly kill the vulnerable every year. Taxpayers are ignored by every party but are not immune to vector borne diseases. Winning the election will give petty politicians the chance to bully cricket association for free passes for family and firends, which is why Rajasthan Royals want to shift to Guyahati in Assam. That is why India is ranked 80th among 180 countries in the perception of corruption index. Perception based on reality.