Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal called on the Election Commission to deploy special observers in the New Delhi constituency, accusing the BJP of engaging in “hooliganism” reports the news agency PTI
In response to Arvind Kejriwal’s allegations, the BJP claimed that he had already sensed defeat in the upcoming February 5 elections, which, they said, had affected both his “language and mental state.” On the final day of campaigning, Kejriwal refrained from holding any roadshows or public meetings but launched a series of attacks on the Election Commission and the BJP over the alleged hooliganism, posting repeatedly on X (formerly Twitter).
“Election Commission ceases to exist in India anymore,” he charged in a late-night post on X.
The former chief minister is facing off against BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit in a three-way contest for the New Delhi constituency.
In a press conference, as reported by the Print, Kejriwal confidently stated that with only three days left until the elections, a wave of support for the AAP is sweeping across Delhi, and the party is on track for 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 responded to Kejriwal’s remarks, accusing the AAP chief of resorting to insults because he is losing the elections, adding that Kejriwal was “abusing and calling the home minister mad” in his frustration.
“This is nothing but his frustration of an imminent defeat,” he said in a press conference.
Patra stated that those calling Shah “mad” are simply fearful of defeat, asserting that the BJP’s internal survey shows the party is set to win 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 highlighted several alleged incidents of attacks, threats, and intimidation directed at AAP volunteers and supporters, reportedly by the BJP. He also accused the Delhi Police of intimidating AAP workers at the BJP’s request.
“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.
Kejriwal urged the Chief Election Commissioner to deploy special election observers in New Delhi to monitor police activities the night before polling and prevent any unlawful detentions. He also called for instructions to the police to allow AAP volunteers to work without interference and for protection to be provided by agencies other than the Delhi Police. Additionally, Kejriwal demanded action against police officers and BJP workers allegedly involved in threatening and attacking AAP supporters. In response to these threats, Kejriwal launched a new social media campaign on X, using the hashtag ‘AmitShahKiGoondagardi’.