Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convener Arvind Kejriwal
addresses a press conference with party leader Sanjay Singh ahead of the Delhi
Assembly elections, in New Delhi, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI — Days ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal
on Sunday demanded that the Election Commission deploy special observers in his
New Delhi constituency, alleging "hooliganism" by the BJP.
The BJP hit back at Kejriwal, saying that he has sensed
defeat in the February 5 elections and it has impacted his "language and
mental condition".
The former chief minister is pitted against BJP's Parvesh
Verma and Sandeep Dikshit of the Congress in a triangular contest in the New
Delhi constituency.
In a press conference, Kejriwal asserted that with just
three days remaining for the polls, a storm of support for the AAP is sweeping
across Delhi and the party is headed to 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 hit back at Kejriwal,
saying the AAP chief "is losing the polls and now abusing and calling the
home minister mad".
"This is nothing but his frustration of an imminent
defeat," he said in a press conference.
Those calling Shah "mad" are scared of defeat,
Patra said asserting that the BJP survey reveals that the party is coming to
power 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 cited various instances of attack, threat and
intimidation of AAP volunteers and supporters allegedly by the BJP. He also
alleged that the Delhi Police too was intimidating AAP workers at BJP's behest.
No immediate reaction was available from the Delhi Police
over his charges.
"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.
He demanded the CEC for deploying special election observers
in New Delhi to monitor police activity on night before the polling day and
prevent any unlawful detentions.
He also demanded direction to police to allow AAP volunteers
to work freely and protection to them by any agency other than Delhi Police. He
also sought action against police officers and BJP workers involved in
threatening, attacking party workers.
In response to the alleged threats, Kejriwal announced the
launch of a new social media campaign with hashtag 'AmitShahKiGoondagardi' on
X.
He urged people to share their experiences of being
"attacked, threatened, or intimidated" using the hashtag.
"The BJP has no vision for Delhi, no chief ministerial
candidate, no development agenda. All they have is hooliganism. They want to
win through fear, not votes," Kejriwal claimed, as he urged Delhiites to
unite against the BJP to ensure the safety and democratic integrity of the
city.
The high-stakes Delhi Assembly elections are slated for
February 5, and the results will be out on February 8.
The AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the
BJP is determined to reclaim the national capital after more than 25 years.
