Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Nov 21: Keeping in focus the Assembly elections in Delhi due to be held in February, 2025, which the former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal described as “Dharmayudh” like the Kurushetra battle in the epic Mahabharata, BJP on Thursday staged a protest in New Delhi against the alleged use of “extravagant luxurious items” for the renovation of the official bungalow of the chief minister when occupied by Mr Kejriwal.
The BJP which called the chief minister’s official residence as “Sheesh Mahal,” claimed that the “extravagantly expensive items” found in the bungalow at 6, Flagstaff Road, were not provided by the Public Works Department (PWD) that owns the property.
Several BJP MPs, the party’s Delhi unit chief Virendra Sachdeva, and Leader of Opposition Vijendra Gupta staged the protest near Mr Kejriwal’s present residence at Firoz Shah Road. Former Delhi Minister Kailash Gahlot who joined the BJP after quitting the AAP earlier this week also joined the protest. Several of the senior BJP leaders were arrested by the police and were later released.
Mr Kejriwal stepped down as Delhi Chief Minister and vacated the 6, Flagstaff Road bungalow in October this year. The BJP has alleged irregularities in the reconstruction of the bungalow and claimed that exorbitantly expensive household goods were used there.
Mr Kejriwal while addressing the party workers last week had likened the coming Delhi elections with the Mahabharata’s epic battle and claimed the divine forces were on the AAP’s side and cited its victory in the mayoral elections “despite the BJP’s concerted efforts to seize control” to bolster his claim. “Delhi Assembly election is like a ‘dharamyudh’. They have immense money and power like the Kauravas, but God and the people are with us as was the case with the Pandavas,” the former chief minister said.
He asked the AAP workers to not look at the candidate nominated by the party for the polls. “You should work as if I am contesting all the 70 seats (in Delhi).” “I will not give ticket to any of my relatives, acquaintances, or friends,” Mr Kejriwal said.
He reminded the officials of the AAP’s achievements, claiming credit for building 10,000 kilometres of roads in Delhi’s colonies, a feat he said the BJP could not match in the 20 states where it holds power. “We are giving six free revdis — electricity, water, education, health, pilgrimage, and bus travel for women. To stop these facilities, the BJP wants to grab power in Delhi,” the AAP chief said.
“The BJP should tell us what the Central government has done for the people of Delhi in the last 10 years and why should the people vote for it?” he posed. In defence of his party he said, “We are a small party with limited resources. The BJP has immense funds and power, but they have never done anything for the people of Delhi because they lack the will to serve.”
In a surprise move, the AAP on Thursday declared its first list of candidates for the upcoming elections even though no dates has yet been announced apparently to give its candidates time to get back in touch with the voters. The names were announced after a meeting of the AAP’s political affairs committee (PAC) headed by Mr Kejriwal. The 11-candidate first list has six turncoats — three from the BJP and as many from the Congress, who recently joined the AAP while three sitting AAP MLAs have been dropped unless they are accommodated in other seats.
Mr Kejriwal had said earlier that ticket for the elections would be distributed based on the work, public opinion and winning chances of the probable and not merely on contacts or money. The AAP won 62 of the 70 assembly seats in the last elections held in 2020.