New Delhi [India]: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to “dishonest tactics” and committing “electoral fraud” ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.
Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal alleged that BJP leaders, including Union Ministers and MPs, were filing fraudulent applications for new voter registrations from their residences. “Union Ministers, BJP MPs, and leaders are playing with the reputation of the Election Commission by throwing dust in its eyes; they are committing electoral scams and frauds,” he said.
Citing AAP MP Sanjay Singh’s earlier remarks, Kejriwal called the allegations “extremely shocking.” He pointed to incidents of multiple voter registrations from unlikely sources, such as slums and small shops, and questioned the legitimacy of these applications. “Applications for creating new votes were filed in the months of December and January from the residences of cabinet ministers and MPs of the ‘Galli-Galoch’ party. An application for 30 votes has come from a slum, and another for 40 votes from a small shop. Who are these people?” Kejriwal asked.
The Delhi CM further accused the BJP of conceding defeat and resorting to malpractice. “The BJP has already accepted its defeat. They do not contest elections—they only engage in dishonesty. Our AAP workers have exposed every instance of their fraud,” he said.
Kejriwal also claimed that BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri is set to be announced as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate, challenging him to a public debate. “We are getting information that Ramesh Bidhuri’s name will be officially announced as the BJP’s CM face in the coming days. I congratulate him. On behalf of Delhi’s public, I ask him to share what he has done for the city’s development as an MP and his vision for Delhi as the CM candidate. There should be a debate between the BJP and AAP CM candidates in front of the people of Delhi,” Kejriwal asserted.
Earlier, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused BJP leaders of undermining the Election Commission and engaging in large-scale electoral fraud. Singh alleged that BJP leaders distributed ₹1,100 to buy votes and called on authorities to take action.
Kejriwal echoed these concerns, accusing the local election officer in the New Delhi constituency of facilitating voter fraud at the BJP’s behest. “The local election officer has surrendered to the BJP and is aiding in fraudulent activities,” he claimed.
AAP leader Atishi also criticized BJP’s alleged choice of Ramesh Bidhuri as its CM candidate, citing his past controversial remarks and branding BJP as the “Galli-Galoch” party. “The BJP rewards those who are most abusive and ill-mannered,” she said.
The Delhi assembly elections are set for February 5, with vote counting scheduled for February 8. Candidates must file nominations by January 17, with scrutiny taking place on January 18 and withdrawals allowed until January 20.
In the 2020 assembly elections, the AAP won 62 out of 70 seats, leaving the BJP with only eight seats. The Congress, once dominant in Delhi, failed to win a single seat in the last two elections.