Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday, calling the party’s manifesto for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections “dangerous” for both the national capital and the country.
“BJP has released two Sankalp Patras so far, and both are dangerous for Delhi and the country,” Kejriwal said during a press conference. He accused the BJP of planning to dismantle key public welfare schemes introduced by the AAP government, including free education, electricity, and healthcare services.
“We have been consistently saying that we made education free for Delhiites. If the BJP comes to power, they will stop free education and free electricity. Four days ago, in their first Sankalp Patra, they stated they would close mohalla clinics. Today, they are saying they will stop education in government schools, claiming they will provide free education only to needy students,” Kejriwal alleged.
The former Chief Minister warned that the BJP’s proposals would disrupt household budgets across the capital. “I want to warn the people of Delhi: this is a very dangerous party. If you vote for them, your home budget will be so disturbed that you won’t be able to afford to live in Delhi,” he added.
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Kejriwal said that the AAP administration has provided free education to 18 lakh poor children in Delhi, as well as free medical treatment and electricity. “We have made education free in Delhi, ensuring 18 lakh poor children receive excellent education. If the BJP comes to power, they will stop free education, medical treatment, and electricity,” he asserted.
The BJP, on the other hand, launched the second part of its manifesto, Sankalp Patra, on Tuesday, with Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur unveiling it alongside senior Delhi BJP leaders. The manifesto promises free education for students in government institutions and proposes the establishment of a welfare board for auto-rickshaw drivers and domestic workers, which would include life insurance coverage. Additionally, the BJP has pledged to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe allegations of corruption during the AAP government’s tenure.
The Delhi assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, will see 699 candidates contesting across 70 seats. The votes will be counted on February 8.
The Congress, which ruled Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has struggled in the last two assembly elections, failing to win a single seat. Meanwhile, the AAP emerged as the dominant force, winning 67 seats in 2015 and 62 in 2020, while the BJP managed to secure only three and eight seats in those respective elections.
As the political temperature rises, both AAP and BJP are intensifying their campaigns to woo Delhi voters ahead of the critical polls.
