New Delhi [India]: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of planning to reverse the progress made in Delhi over the last decade if it comes to power in the upcoming Assembly elections.
The remarks came amidst the “Ab Nahi Sahenge, Badal Ke Rahenge” (Won’t tolerate anymore, will bring change) poster campaign launched by BJP against the AAP government in the national capital.
Kejriwal’s Response
In a post on X, Kejriwal warned voters about the BJP’s intentions:
“Today BJP has given the slogan—’Badal Ke Rahenge.’ This means they will undo all progress made in the past 10 years. Free electricity will stop, power cuts will return, free bus rides for women will end, government schools will deteriorate, and mohalla clinics will be closed.”
He further urged voters to be cautious during the elections, stating:
“Vote carefully. They have made their intentions clear.”
BJP’s Slogan and Criticism of AAP
BJP Delhi Chief Virendra Sachdeva defended the poster campaign, calling it the “voice of the people.”
“The slogan reflects public sentiment to remove the corrupt AAP government. People are tired of broken roads, dirty water, and corruption,” Sachdeva said while advocating for a BJP-led “double-engine government” for Delhi’s development.
Allegations Over Voter List Manipulation
Kejriwal also accused BJP of manipulating voter lists, alleging that the party had applied to remove 11,000 voters from electoral rolls, many of whom he claimed were AAP supporters.
“We randomly checked 500 names from the list and found 372 people still residing at their addresses. The BJP is trying to cut votes, especially those favoring AAP,” Kejriwal said.
Background and Upcoming Elections
The Delhi Assembly polls, expected in early 2025, will be a critical test for both AAP, which currently holds 62 of the 70 seats, and BJP, which won eight seats in 2020. As campaign rhetoric heats up, the issue of governance versus allegations of corruption and inefficiency is likely to dominate voter concerns.