Will 'Housing For All' Replace 'Free Electricity' As Delhi’s Top Priority Under BJP Rule?

The BJP, in its manifesto, promised to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme, "ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen."

Beneficiaries of a housing scheme under which new flats are being provided to residents of Jhuggi Jhopri clusters, during a rally of PM Modi in New Delhi.

Source : PTI

The ten-year rule of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi was built on three key promises — free electricity, free water and free education. Among the three promises, free 200 units of electricity remained one of the dominant promises and was credited for the party's success in the 2015 and 2020 assembly elections. 

In the 20205 elections too, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party promised upto 200 units of electricity free and 50 per cent subsidy beyond that. However, the party failed to replicate its success in 2025 elections. The BJP, meanwhile, came back to power after a hiatus of 26 years, winning 48 of the 70 seats in the Assembly polls. 

Unlike the AAP, the BJP has not promised 200 units of free electricity but is assured of continuing the welfare schemes run under the AAP government. 

With the BJP's win in the capital, the focus is now back on the BJP's promises — free education, clean Yamuna, health insurance, and 50,000 government jobs.

However, what makes the BJP's manifesto distinct is the emphasis on 'housing for all' and a promise to regularise 1700 unauthorised colonies in the capital. But, the question remains to what extend do these promises hold significance for the voters in Delhi? 

BJP's 'Housing For All' Promise?

For several voters in Delhi, the issues including infrastructure, housing, air pollution, and inflation remained the major concern. 

The BJP, in its manifesto, promised to implement the Ayushman Bharat scheme, "ensuring affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen." The party also promised to provide housing to 3.5 lakh poor families, ensuring everyone has a safe home.  

It also said that the party will start the process of regularising 1,731 colonies and giving ownership rights to 40 lakh citizens under the PM-UDAY Yojana. The party blamed the AAP government for "not implementing" the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana on time, due to which around 10 lakh residents in capital were deprived of their right to housing.

Regularisation Of Unauthorised Colonies

Delhi's unauthorised colonies, home to approximately 30 per cent of the city's population, have long been at the centre of the political discourse, especially during elections. While these settlements are spread across the city, their number is higher in areas of Northwest, West, South and Northeast parts of the capital. 

Though previous governments, including the AAP government, promised to implement the regularisation of these colonies, the issue remains largely unfulfilled for many residents of these unauthorised colonies.

Regularisation of unauthorised colonies has been one of the BJP's 'sankalp' for Delhi. The BJP has promised giving full ownership rights to 1700 unauthorised colonies in Delhi. 

"Residents of these colonies will receive complete ownership rights to their homes and will be able to construct, build or rebuild their homes as per the provisions of the Ministry of Housing and Delhi's building bylaws," the BJP's manifesto stated.

The BJP has said it would create a special task force with the support of the central government to regularise all eligible unauthorised colonies on government land and provide ownership rights.

With previous governments largely ignoring the issue of regularizing these unauthorized colonies, the BJP could make it a top priority after forming the government.

Between the 1960s and the early 2000s, several regularisation drives were initiated in the capital, according to news agency PTI. In 2007, the centre issued guidelines for regularisation, followed by regulations in 2008. Despite the efforts, many colonies still await formal recognition.