The political atmosphere in Delhi intensified on Friday as BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal strongly refuted allegations by AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP leader had accused the BJP of orchestrating efforts to remove thousands of voters, predominantly AAP supporters, from the electoral rolls ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
BJP’s Counter
Khandelwal dismissed the accusations as “false and fabricated,” claiming they were part of AAP’s strategy to divert attention from its anticipated defeat in the 2025 Assembly elections.
- Khandelwal’s Statement: “Making baseless allegations has become Arvind Kejriwal’s nature. AAP leaders are trying to create false narratives as they foresee losing in the elections. The people of Delhi are aware of these tactics and will not be misled.”
Kejriwal’s Allegations
Kejriwal alleged that the BJP, using its party letterhead, submitted applications to the Election Commission of India (ECI) seeking the removal of 11,000 voters, claiming they had either moved away or passed away.
- AAP’s Findings: “We randomly checked 500 of these cases and found that 372 voters are still residing at their registered addresses,” said Kejriwal.
- Partisan Targeting: Kejriwal claimed, “75% of these voters are AAP supporters. If such large numbers are struck off the rolls, the fairness of the elections is in question.”
Kejriwal’s Appeal
The AAP chief described this move as a “threat to democracy” and accused the BJP and ECI of attempting to deprive citizens of their fundamental right to vote.
- Kejriwal’s Warning: “Voting is a fundamental right, and any attempt to strip this right is a grave violation of democratic principles. Elections must remain fair and transparent.”
Background
The accusations come as Delhi gears up for Assembly elections in early 2025. In the 2020 elections, AAP won 62 out of 70 seats, while the BJP managed to secure only eight seats.
As the political blame game continues, the ECI’s response to these allegations and its efforts to ensure transparency in the voter list process will be crucial in maintaining public trust ahead of the polls.