The 2025 Delhi Election: A Policy-Driven Freebie Landscape and Its Fiscal Implications

The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections have been characterized by a fierce competition among political parties to offer a wide array of freebies and welfare schemes. These promises, ranging from direct cash transfers to subsidies on essential utilities, have become the central theme of the campaign. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Congress have all presented manifestos heavily reliant on these incentives, despite repeated warnings from the Supreme Court of India regarding their potential detrimental impact on free and fair elections and the state's fiscal health.

The debate surrounding these freebies has intensified as parties vie for voter attention. The Supreme Court has previously observed that the distribution of freebies influences the electorate and shakes the root of democracy. Furthermore, fiscal experts have warned that such populist measures could push the state towards financial instability. Nevertheless, the trend of offering free goods and services continues to dominate the political landscape in Delhi.

Key Freebie Schemes Announced for the 2025 Election

The various political parties have announced specific schemes targeting different demographics. These initiatives are designed to secure votes across different sections of society.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Promises

AAP, seeking a fourth consecutive term, has announced several schemes, including financial support for specific groups and expansion of existing welfare programs.

Pujari Granthi Samman Yojana: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal announced this scheme, which promises a monthly allowance of Rs 18,000 for Hindu temple priests and gurdwara granthis if the party is re-elected.
Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana: This scheme provides financial assistance to women from families with an annual income below Rs 3 lakh. In the budget for 2024-25, the AAP government announced it would give Rs 1,000 per month to all women above the age of 18 in the national capital.
Expansion of Old-Age Pensions: AAP has expanded its old-age pension scheme by adding 80,000 new beneficiaries, raising the total number of recipients to 5.3 lakh. The government also launched a new online portal to streamline applications, which reportedly received 10,000 submissions.
Other Promises: In its manifesto, "Kejriwal ki Guarantee," AAP presented 15 promises, including job creation, free healthcare for senior citizens, 24/7 clean drinking water for all households, a cleaner Yamuna River, scholarships covering all expenses for Dalit students studying abroad, free bus and metro travel for students, and the construction of world-class roads.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Promises

The BJP, which won the 2025 election, pledged to continue existing freebies and introduce new ones, despite having previously criticized such policies.

Mahila Samriddhi Yojana: The BJP promised cash transfers to women, though the specific amount is not detailed in the provided source data.
Health Insurance: The party promised an expanded Ayushman Bharat scheme and Rs 10 lakh health insurance for senior citizens and economically disadvantaged families.
Electricity and LPG: The BJP proposed free electricity for up to 200 units and a Rs 500 subsidy on LPG cylinders, including a free cylinder during festivals like Holi and Diwali.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana: The first cabinet meeting under the BJP-led government is anticipated to implement the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, providing free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh, with the state government adding another Rs 5 lakh coverage for low-income families.

Congress Promises

The Congress party also offered significant freebies to compete with the other major parties.

Pyari Didi Yojana: Congress promised Rs 2,500 per month to women under this scheme.
Free Electricity: The party promised up to 300 units of free electricity, surpassing the offers from both AAP and BJP.

The Role of "Brand Modi" and Campaign Dynamics

The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections saw the BJP register a massive victory, winning 47 of the 70 seats. The victory is attributed to several factors, including the "Brand Modi" effect. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh acknowledged the win as a "triumph of faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership." PM Modi, who led the BJP's campaign, accused the AAP of large-scale wrongdoings, including the construction of a 'sheeshmahal' (palace of mirrors) for the former Chief Minister's residence at the cost of public welfare.

Despite the BJP's historical criticism of freebies, the party's manifesto for the Delhi elections included substantial welfare promises. This "freebie paradox" was a notable feature of the campaign. Before the elections, Arvind Kejriwal claimed the BJP would stop all free schemes if it came to power. However, the BJP promised to continue existing welfare schemes and even introduce more, which likely helped it break through AAP's middle-class voter base.

Fiscal Implications and Expert Opinions

The proliferation of freebies has raised serious concerns about the fiscal sustainability of such policies. Experts suggest that the BJP government in Delhi will need to strike a balance between populist measures and financial sustainability.

Supreme Court Warnings: The Supreme Court has repeatedly warned about the detrimental impact of freebies. In July 2013, the court observed that the distribution of freebies influences all people and shakes the root of free and fair elections. In January 2022, the court noted that the budget for freebies is going above the regular budget.
Fiscal Disaster Warning: Fiscal analysts have warned that the promises made during the Delhi election could push the state towards a fiscal disaster. The cost of implementing these schemes, combined with the expansion of existing ones, places a significant burden on the state exchequer.
BJP's Approach: Experts believe it is unlikely that the BJP will discontinue AAP's freebies. Instead, they anticipate potential additions to welfare schemes. The BJP's official stand in its Sankalp Patra was to commit to not discontinuing existing welfare schemes and to roll out new ones.

Conclusion

The 2025 Delhi Assembly elections have underscored the dominance of freebies as a political strategy. While parties like AAP, BJP, and Congress have promised a range of financial and non-financial benefits to secure voter support, these promises have sparked a critical debate on their long-term impact on the state's economy. With the BJP now in power, the focus will be on how the party manages to fulfill its pre-poll promises while maintaining fiscal discipline, a challenge that experts and the Supreme Court will be closely monitoring.