With the Delhi assembly elections around the corner, the city’s sidewalks and public transit spaces have transformed into stages for a graphic and high-stakes fight for the eyes of voters. This campaign is dominated by the ruling AAP and its main rival the BJP, where citizens of the national capital have been surrounded by bright-colored banners with stylish slogans and messages. Having identified key areas such as bill boards, residential areas, markets, and walkways, among others adorned with posters, each is an attempt to influence the public.
Creativity has been applied on both sides of the campaigns because the candidates have used unique and creative ways to sell ideas to the voters. From the usage of social media platforms in campaigns to measures such as efficiency in AI-generated poster displays. Since the latter part of the decade, pop-culture references and cliches, as well as movies, including the recently released Pushpa 2, have emerged as popular sources of inspiration for slogans and logos. The quotes from the film have been used to convey political statements and make the campaign go viral.
The BJP has utilized this chance to inspect AAP’s regime, such posters as “Kejriwal, jawab do sadkon mein gaddhe hain ya gaddhon mein sadak hai? (Kejriwal, answer: Are there potholes on roads or roads in potholes?” Another poster on a south Delhi flyover questions the city’s water quality: ‘Jahan nal se naale sa paani aaye, kya ye hai meri Dilli?’ (Where the water of the taps is as filthy as sewage, is this my Delhi?).
Senior AAP leaders have responded with similar messages that go along with their campaign agenda of “Phir Layenge Kejriwal” (We will bring Kejriwal again), rolling out their achievements in the spheres of education, health, and public services.
This entertaining, high-stakes game of operatic one-upmanship underscores the desperation with which the two parties try to reach out to Delhitis and engage the full arsenal of political communication tools.
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