Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of plotting a conspiracy ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.
Kejriwal alleged that the BJP would misuse the Delhi Police and claimed party members would pose as Election Commission officials to deceive voters.
"Aam Aadmi Party is heading to a historic victory and BJP is heading towards its worst defeat. BJP will use Delhi Police to commit hooliganism. BJP workers will approach poor people and pretend to be Election Commission officials, asking them to mark their finger with ink and take Rs 3,000 in exchange for votes," Kejriwal said.
He further added, "BJP people are going into slums claiming that the Election Commission will visit the homes of voters before the elections, which is false. The Election Commission does not conduct voting in homes."
In a separate address, Manish Sisodia, a senior leader from AAP, condemned BJP’s alleged threats and claimed the public would reject these tactics through their votes.
"The public will answer BJP's hooliganism with their votes. Baba Saheb made the people masters by creating a democratic system. Now, BJP is threatening the public, but we are the disciples of Baba Saheb and Bhagat Singh. We are not afraid of their tactics," Sisodia said. He expressed confidence that the people of Delhi had made up their minds to elect Kejriwal as Chief Minister again.
Meanwhile, BJP candidate for New Delhi Assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma, made a bold prediction about the results. Verma stated that BJP would win by a significant margin, claiming that Kejriwal would lose his deposit and finish in third place.
"We will win by a margin of over 20,000 votes, possibly even 25,000-26,000. Kejriwal will lose his deposit here and come in third," Verma declared.
Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey also suggested that Kejriwal would lose in the New Delhi constituency, citing the Delhi Police's control over his "goons." He pointed out that the Union Budget had provisions benefiting Purvanchali people, who he believed were now leaning toward the BJP.
"Delhi Police has controlled his (Kejriwal's) goons. Purvanchalis feel safer with the BJP, and this has resulted in the loss of AAP's vote bank. Kejriwal will lose here," Dubey claimed.
BJP leader and Union Minister Piyush Goyal also targeted AAP, claiming that the people of Delhi would reject their false promises. He emphasized that the BJP's focus on development and welfare would deliver a good government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
"The people of Delhi will be free from fake promises and will have a credible government led by PM Modi, which focuses on public welfare. Delhi residents are eager to elect a double-engine government under BJP's leadership. The BJP victory seems almost certain now, especially after the Prime Minister's budget gift to the middle class, which has relieved them of the tax burden," Goyal stated.
The Delhi Assembly elections will be held on February 5, with the results to be announced on February 8.