Arvind Kejriwal alleges BJP poaching AAP candidates ahead of Delhi Poll results

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal has accused the BJP of attempting to lure his party’s candidates ahead of the Delhi Assembly election results on February 8. The BJP, however, dismissed the allegations and warned of legal action.

In a post on X, Kejriwal claimed that 16 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates had received offers from the BJP, promising them ministerial positions and Rs 15 crore each if they defect.

कुछ एजेंसीज दिखा रही हैं कि गाली गलौज पार्टी की 55 से ज़्यादा सीट आ रही हैं।

पिछले दो घंटे में हमारे 16 उम्मीदवारों के पास फ़ोन आ गए हैं कि “आप” छोड़ के उनकी पार्टी में आ जाओ, मंत्री बना देंगे और हरेक को 15-15 करोड़ देंगे।

अगर इनकी पार्टी की 55 से ज़्यादा सीटें आ रहीं हैं तो…

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 6, 2025

“Some agencies are showing that the abusive party (BJP) is getting more than 55 seats. In the last two hours, 16 of our candidates have received calls that if they leave the AAP and join their party, they will be made ministers and given Rs 15 crore each,” Kejriwal alleged in his post on the microblogging platform.

Questioning the BJP’s confidence in winning, he added, “If they are indeed winning more than 55 seats, why are they calling up our candidates? These fake surveys are a conspiracy to create an atmosphere to break AAP candidates. But not a single one of them will switch sides.”

AAP leaders back Kejriwal’s claim

Supporting Kejriwal’s allegations, AAP candidate from Sultanpur Majra and Delhi minister Mukesh Ahlawat said he was personally approached with an offer to switch parties.

“I may die, I may be cut into pieces, but I will never abandon Arvind Kejriwal,” Ahlawat posted on X.

मैं मर जाऊंगा, कट जाऊंगा लेकिन कभी @ArvindKejriwal जी का साथ नहीं छोडूंगा।

मुझे इस नंबर से फ़ोन आया। उसने बोला कि उनकी सरकार बन रही है, मंत्री बना देंगे और 15 करोड़ भी देंगे। “आप” छोड़ के आ जाओ।

मैं इनको कहना चाहता हूँ कि जो इज़्ज़त केजरीवाल जी ने और “आप” पार्टी ने मुझे दी है,… pic.twitter.com/ZrqIC0R4WD

— Mukesh Ahlawat (@mukeshahlawatap) February 6, 2025

“I was told that their government is being formed and they will make me a minister and give me Rs 15 crore if I leave the AAP and join them. But the respect that Kejriwal and the AAP have given me, I will never leave my party till my death.”

AAP MP Sanjay Singh also raised the issue at a press conference, claiming that at least seven party MLAs had received similar offers, either through phone calls or in-person meetings.

#WATCH | Delhi: AAP MP Sanjay Singh says, "Seven MLAs (of AAP) have received phone calls from some BJP elements, who have offered to give them Rs 15 crore to leave the Aam Aadmi Party and join the BJP... We have told the MLAs to record such audio calls and complain about it. If… pic.twitter.com/YbYhfu7rEC

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025

“This clearly shows that the BJP has accepted its defeat even before the results and is now resorting to such tactics,” Singh stated.

BJP dismisses claims, warns of legal action

Denying the allegations, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP of fabricating claims out of “frustration” over an impending loss.

“Sanjay Singh should either retract his allegations and tender an apology or face legal action,” Sachdeva said.

“He should not forget that his party leader, (former) Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, is already facing a defamation case for making similar false allegations.”

Singh, however, insisted that AAP has advised its candidates to record such calls and use spy cameras to document any poaching attempts.

Chief Minister Atishi, AAP’s candidate from Kalkaji, also weighed in, questioning the BJP’s alleged attempts to influence candidates. “If the abusive party (BJP) is getting more than 50 seats, then why are they trying to break our candidates by contacting them?” she asked in a post on X.

She further claimed that exit polls predicting a BJP victory were a deliberate attempt to demoralize AAP candidates.

With polling for all 70 Assembly seats completed on Wednesday, the focus now shifts to the results on Saturday, which will determine whether AAP secures a third consecutive term or if the BJP ends its 27-year-long wait to govern the capital.