Bedi, Kejriwal trade charges over poll code

Blame game continues even on election day

Kiran Bedi and Arvind Kejriwal, the main rivals in the battle for Delhi chief minister’s chair, traded charges against each other over poll code violations on Saturday.

Bedi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief ministerial candidate, accused Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) volunteers of “buying” votes and “intimidating” women voters. To back her claim Bedi showed a video clip of a young woman to reporters.

“The AAP is buying voters for Rs 300. Young girls are saying they were offered money and free food. The poor are being threatened,” she said. A few slum voters claimed in the her presence that they got threats from the AAP, and Bedi in turn slammed media of selective reporting. 

Her party candidate from the New Delhi constituency Nupur Sharma also accused the AAP of assaulting BJP workers in North Avenue and West Kidwai Nagar. Sharma also alleged that AAP volunteers tried to manhandle her.

Kejriwal, who is seeking re-election for the post of Delhi chief minister, said his opponents were spreading rumours. Returning the attack, he accused the BJP of distributing money and liquor to voters.

“A lot of money, alcohol has been distributed last night (Friday night), don’t vote for that party,” he said.

The AAP also complained against Bedi with the Election Commission against alleged violation of the model code of conduct at Krishna Nagar. Urging the Election Commission to take action against Bedi, the party in its letter said she held a roadshow and asked for votes on Saturday morning.

“Kiran Bedi from Krishna Nagar constituency doing ‘padyatra’ – bike rally with hundreds of workers and met with voters. Hundreds of workers with campaign material. She did 5 km padyatra and bike rally,” the letter said.

The BJP returned the attack by accusing the AAP workers of “placing liquor bottles in the car of one of their candidates”. On the AAP’s complain about padyatra, Kiran Bedi said, “People follow me on their own, let the Election Commission look into poll code violation.”