New Delhi (India), January 1: Arvind Kejriwal, the National Convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), wrote a letter to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday, raising several concerns about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its impact on democracy. In the letter, Kejriwal questioned whether the RSS believes the BJP is weakening democracy.
Kejriwal sought clarification on multiple issues, including whether the RSS supports the wrongdoings of the BJP in the past. He also criticized the practice of BJP leaders openly distributing money and asked if the RSS condones such actions, which he claims involve buying votes. Additionally, Kejriwal raised alarms over the alleged large-scale cutting of Dalit and Purvanchali votes and asked if the RSS thought this was acceptable for a healthy democracy.
“Does RSS support the wrongdoings of the BJP in the past? BJP leaders are openly distributing money. Does RSS support vote buying? Dalit and Purvanchali votes are being cut on a large scale. Does RSS believe this is right for democracy? Does RSS not think the BJP is weakening democracy?” Kejriwal wrote.
On Monday, AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar accused the BJP of attempting to manipulate voter lists in Delhi, particularly in the Shadara constituency. She claimed that BJP leader Vishal Bharadwaj had submitted applications for the deletion of voters’ names. “BJP wants to cut the votes of the many Purvanchalis living in Delhi. Vishal Bharadwaj of BJP gave applications for the deletion of voters’ names in Shadara. When we raised our voices, he stopped,” Kakkar alleged.
Kakkar also accused BJP leader Parvesh Sharma of distributing money for votes in the New Delhi constituency and submitting conflicting applications to the Election Commission for voter deletions and additions. “In the New Delhi constituency, BJP leader Parvesh Sharma distributed money for votes. A BJP leader submitted an application to the ECI for deleting voters’ names while submitting another to add names. BJP is rattled,” Kakkar added.
On Sunday, Kejriwal claimed that the BJP was manipulating voter lists, prompting the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi to clarify that all objections and claims related to the draft electoral roll had been addressed by December 24. The final electoral roll will be published on January 6, 2025.
With the Delhi Assembly elections in 2025 approaching, the political battle between AAP and BJP has intensified, with both parties accusing each other of election manipulation.