Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann
PTI
New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Friday said AAP does not have money and can only spread love, a day after an Election Commission team reached Kapurthala House, his official residence here, to conduct a search over allegation that money was being distributed from there in the poll-bound city.
Amid a blame game between the Aam Aadmi Party and the EC, the flying squad returned empty-handed from Kapurthala House at Copernicus Road on Thursday, claiming the doors were locked and no searches could be conducted.
Campaigning in the Kondli constituency in support of AAP candidate Kuldeep Kumar on Friday, Mann asked the EC what did they find from Kapurthala House during their search and asserted that the AAP wins elections through love, not money.
"We can only distribute love, we do not have money," he added.
On Thursday the Punjab chief minister slammed the poll panel saying its "searches" were an insult to all "Punjabis". In a post on X, he claimed, that the EC officials searched every nook and corner of Kapurthala House.
The District Election Office, New Delhi, rejected Mann's allegations in a post on X saying, "The claims that the FST (flying squad team) thoroughly searched every nook and corner of Kapurthala House are factually incorrect. The returning officer’s report confirms that the team was denied entry into the locked rooms." Mann hit out at the EC, alleging that it was focusing on AAP leaders and their houses but avoiding the BJP which was "openly" distributing money in the Delhi elections. "In the 500 metres radius around the Election Commission office, all the BJP leaders have their houses. Do they have the courage to go there?" he dared the poll panel.
The Punjab chief minister claimed that youths from Mangolpuri were paid Rs 400 each to attend Union Home Minister Amit Shah's roadshow in New Delhi constituency on Thursday. Youths seen in videos waving BJP flags will vote for Kejriwal, he claimed.
"Why does not the EC enquire into the source of this money," he questioned.
Mann asserted the AAP government will retain power in Delhi after the polls.
Slamming the BJP, the Punjab chief minister said, "I do not know when the 'Achhe Din' (BJP's promise of good days) will come but one thing is sure that after February 8, Kejriwal's 'Sachhe Din' for Delhi people will return for the fourth time."
Delhi Assembly Election 2025 | The first of two state assembly polls this year sees a three-way contest between AAP, Congress, and BJP in the nation's capital. AAP decided to contest the polls alone, causing rumours of a rift in I.N.D.I.A. BJP, meanwhile, is hoping the liquor excise policy scam and pollution in Delhi will give the saffron party an edge over AAP. Kejriwal, on the other hand, has different plans with his demand for reservations for Delhi Jats. Congress will also be looking to make its presence felt and has not held back from attacking its own alliance partner. Check live updates and track the latest coverage, live news, in-depth opinions, and analyses only on Deccan Herald.
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