New Delhi [India], January 30: With just days left for the Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal launched a strong attack on Congress, accusing the party of working with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to ensure AAP’s defeat in the upcoming polls.
“Congress is not fighting to win these elections. Instead, they are collaborating with the BJP to ensure AAP loses,” Kejriwal claimed in a video address.
Kejriwal referenced a recent conversation with Congress supporters, where he highlighted the party’s loss in Haryana despite strong chances of victory, which he attributed to internal infighting within Congress. “Recently, I spoke with some lifelong Congress supporters. They expressed their disappointment with the party’s leadership. They even admitted that Congress lost in Haryana due to internal conflicts,” he said.
He urged Congress supporters to vote for AAP, stressing that while Congress leaders rarely criticize BJP leaders, they often target AAP. Kejriwal warned that if BJP wins, it would discontinue several welfare initiatives implemented by AAP in Delhi, including free bus services for women and the mohalla clinics. “If Congress wins, the BJP will form the government and shut down all the welfare schemes, like free electricity and the improvements made in government schools,” he added.
The AAP leader’s appeal also comes amidst the controversy over the Yamuna water issue. Kejriwal had accused the BJP-led Haryana government of “poisoning” the Yamuna water flowing into Delhi, prompting a notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI). He criticized the ECI for sending him a notice, alleging that Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar had ulterior motives after his retirement. Kejriwal clarified his remarks on Wednesday, defending his statement as part of his duty to the public and expressing concern over the potential consequences of such accusations being treated as offenses.
The Delhi Assembly elections are set to take place on February 5, with the results to be announced on February 8. A total of 699 candidates are competing for the 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly. In recent years, AAP has dominated the elections, winning 62 out of 70 seats in 2020 and 67 in 2015. The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has struggled to regain its foothold, failing to win any seats in the last two elections.