With the announcement of the Delhi Assembly elections, political tension has escalated. The BJP and AAP are at loggerheads. On the Purvanchal controversy, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari slammed Kejriwal, accusing him of disrespecting people from UP, Bihar, and Jharkhand. He warned that the Purvanchali community would retaliate on February 5. Meanwhile, AAP retorted to BJP's allegations by accusing them of engaging in low-level politics.
On Thursday, Kejriwal met with the Chief Election Commissioner alongside party leaders. Addressing the media afterwards, he claimed 13,000 new voter applications were filed between December 15 and January 8. In an assembly with 100,000 voters, he questioned the origin of these new applicants, alleging influxes from UP, Bihar, and neighboring states to forge fake voters.
Counterattack by Manoj Tiwari
In response to Kejriwal's comments, Manoj Tiwari accused him of having a notorious past of disrespecting UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and migrant communities. He challenged Kejriwal's audacity to label these communities as fraudulent, alleging malpractices involving illegal Bangladeshis and Rohingyas and questioning Kejriwal's intent.
'Building Their Niche Through Hard Work'
He elaborated that people from UP, Bihar, and Jharkhand work diligently to establish themselves, often buying small plots and building homes. He accused Kejriwal's government of giving them the hardest time over the last decade, targeting them for humiliation.
Tiwari warned Kejriwal that these communities, which represent 42% of the votes, would answer his remarks vigorously on February 5.
Baseless Statements Emerge
BJP President and Health Minister JP Nadda also criticized Kejriwal, alleging that, fearing defeat, he resorted to reckless remarks against people from UP and Bihar, disrespecting them by labeling them fake voters. He expressed confidence that Delhi's public would oust him from power in response.
AAP's Retort to BJP
In retaliation to BJP's accusations, AAP's Sanjay Singh criticized the ruling party for consistently disrespecting Purvanchalis. He pointed out that BJP Chief JP Nadda had derogatorily labeled Purvanchalis as Bangladeshis and Rohingyas. Singh highlighted how Kejriwal's efforts improved the living conditions of Purvanchalis in irregular colonies by building roads and sewer lines.
Single-Phase Voting Scheduled
On February 5, voting will take place in a single phase across 70 assembly seats, with results declared on February 8. According to the election commission, over 1.55 crore voters will participate, including 83,49,645 men and 71,73,952 women, alongside 1,261 voters identifying as third gender.
