New Delhi:
In a dramatic turn of events ahead of the Delhi Assembly poll results, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to poach AAP candidates with lucrative offers. Kejriwal alleged that 16 AAP candidates received calls offering them Rs 15 crore and ministerial positions to switch sides, a claim that has sparked a fierce backlash from the BJP.
The allegations surfaced just a day before the counting of votes for the Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February 8. Kejriwal’s accusations have ignited a heated exchange between the two parties, with the BJP vehemently denying the claims and threatening legal action. Delhi minister Mukesh Ahlawat, an AAP candidate from Sultanpur Majra, has corroborated Kejriwal’s claims, adding weight to the AAP’s allegations.
Kejriwal took to social media to reveal that in the last two hours before making the allegations public, 16 AAP candidates had received calls from the BJP. These calls allegedly promised the candidates ministerial positions and Rs 15 crore each if they were to leave the AAP and join the BJP. Kejriwal questioned the logic behind these offers, given that several exit polls predict the BJP winning more than 55 seats in the election. “If they are indeed winning more than 55 seats, why are they calling up our candidates?” he asked, suggesting that these fake surveys were part of a conspiracy to demoralize AAP candidates.
Delhi minister Mukesh Ahlawat echoed Kejriwal’s claims, stating that he too had received a similar offer. Ahlawat asserted his loyalty to the AAP, saying, “I may die, I may be cut into pieces, but I will never abandon Arvind Kejriwal.” Chief Minister Atishi also weighed in, suggesting that the exit polls predicting a BJP victory were a ploy to break the morale of AAP candidates.
AAP leader Sanjay Singh reinforced these allegations, stating that the BJP’s actions indicated they had accepted defeat even before the results were announced. Singh advised AAP candidates to record any such calls and use hidden cameras to document face-to-face meetings, promising to release evidence at the right time.
The BJP, however, has categorically denied these allegations. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva termed the AAP’s claims as a sign of their frustration over an impending electoral defeat. Sachdeva demanded that Sanjay Singh retract his allegations and apologize, or face legal action. He also reminded that Kejriwal is already facing a defamation case for similar allegations.
The intense political rivalry between the AAP and BJP has been a hallmark of the Delhi elections. With Delhi having voted on February 5, the stage is set for a crucial count on February 8. Most exit polls predict a BJP victory, but the AAP remains confident in the loyalty of its candidates, despite the alleged poaching attempts.
