AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal
Credit: PTI Photo
New Delhi: Days before the Delhi Assembly polls, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal demanded that the Election Commission deploy special observers in his New Delhi constituency, alleging "hooliganism" by the BJP.
The BJP responded to Kejriwal, saying he had sensed defeat in the February 5 elections, which had impacted his "language and mental condition."
Kejriwal, who did not hold any roadshows or public meetings on the penultimate day of campaigning for the February 5 polls, mounted sustained attacks on the EC and the BJP over the alleged hooliganism, through dozens of posts on X.
"Election Commission ceases to exist in India anymore," he charged in a late-night post on X.
The former chief minister is pitted against BJP's Parvesh Verma and Sandeep Dikshit of the Congress in a triangular contest in the New Delhi constituency.
In a press conference, Kejriwal asserted that with just three days remaining for the polls, a storm of support for the AAP is sweeping across Delhi and the party is headed to a "historic victory".
"In this desperate situation, the BJP is baffled. Specially, Amit Shah is very much rattled and maddened. The kind of hooliganism he has spread in Delhi has not been seen by the people earlier," Kejriwal charged.
BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra hit back at Kejriwal, saying the AAP chief "is losing the polls and is therefore abusing and calling the home minister mad".
"This is nothing but his frustration of an imminent defeat," he said in a press conference.
Those calling Shah "mad" are scared of defeat, Patra said asserting that the BJP survey reveals that the party is coming to power in Delhi with a "massive mandate".
"Kejriwal himself and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, and Manish Sisodia are losing their elections. Kejriwal knows this and it has impacted his language and mental condition," claimed the BJP spokesperson.
Meanwhile, in a complaint to the chief election commissioner, Kejriwal cited various instances of alleged attacks, threats and intimidation of AAP volunteers and supporters allegedly by the BJP. He also alleged that the Delhi Police too was intimidating AAP workers at the BJP's behest.
No immediate reaction was available from the Delhi Police over his charges.
"We fear our volunteers may be detained, threatened, or even assaulted on poll eve and election day to cripple our election operations by preventing our volunteers from working," he charged in his letter.
He demanded the CEC deploy special election observers in New Delhi to monitor police activity on the night before the polling day and prevent any unlawful detentions.
He also demanded direction to the police to allow AAP volunteers to work freely and protection to them by any agency other than the Delhi Police. He also sought action against police officers and BJP workers involved in allegedly threatening and attacking party workers.
In response to the alleged threats, Kejriwal announced the launch of a new social media campaign with hashtag 'AmitShahKiGoondagardi' on X.
He urged people to share their experiences of being "attacked, threatened, or intimidated" using the hashtag.
"The BJP has no vision for Delhi, no chief ministerial candidate, no development agenda. All they have is hooliganism. They want to win through fear, not votes," Kejriwal claimed as he urged Delhiites to unite against the BJP to ensure the safety and democratic integrity of the city.
The high-stakes Delhi Assembly elections are slated for February 5, and the results will be out on February 8.
The AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the BJP is determined to reclaim the national capital after more than 25 years.
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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