Delhi elections: AAP and BJP clash over slum outreach efforts

Ahead of the Delhi assembly elections, a political dispute has erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding slum development and voter registrations. A day after BJP leaders spent the night in Delhi’s slums as part of an outreach campaign, the AAP accused the saffron party of demolishing slums and removing slum dwellers’ names from electoral rolls.

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal criticized the BJP's efforts, claiming that the party would visit slums, promise support, and then later demolish them. "They will sleep in your jhuggi now and then demolish it after three months," Kejriwal alleged, adding that it was ironic for BJP leaders to visit slums after having destroyed them over the past five years.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi further warned slumdwellers, advising them to be cautious of BJP leaders. She alleged that the slums they visit are later demolished, citing the example of Sundar Nagri and Shahdara’s Ambedkar Basti where names of slumdwellers were allegedly deleted from the voters' list.

In response, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor dismissed the accusations, claiming that AAP was making "frivolous" allegations because they had already conceded defeat. He also defended the BJP's outreach program, claiming it was designed to understand slum dwellers' struggles and improve their living conditions through the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB).

As the Delhi assembly elections approach in February, the BJP's outreach to slum residents has become a significant political strategy, aiming to expand its influence in areas traditionally dominated by AAP.