The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have intensified their war of words through posters and public statements as the Delhi assembly elections draw closer. The BJP has accused AAP of voter fraud, while AAP has hit back, alleging the BJP’s complicity in temple demolitions.
The BJP released a poster targeting AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, claiming that fraudulent voter entries were registered at a single address without the homeowner’s consent. The entries reportedly included individuals aged 40 to 80. BJP leaders labeled this as “a new strategy by Kejriwal to manipulate votes.”
In response, Arvind Kejriwal took to social media to accuse the BJP of double standards, particularly regarding its stance on religion. He argued that while BJP opposes honorariums for religious leaders, it also authorizes temple demolitions under the Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) directive.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi elaborated on the issue, alleging that the BJP-led central government had bypassed the elected Delhi government by empowering the LG to make decisions about temple demolitions. She stated that on November 22, the Religious Committee approved the demolition of several temples, including those in West Patel Nagar, Dilshad Garden, Sultanpuri, and a Buddhist temple in Sundar Nagari.
“The BJP claims to protect Hinduism but is actively destroying temples,” Atishi said at a press conference.
The BJP countered these claims by highlighting unfulfilled promises by the AAP government. BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi criticized Mr. Kejriwal for failing to deliver on issues such as water quality, women’s safety, slum rehabilitation, pollution control, and cleaning the Yamuna River.
“Instead of addressing these pressing issues, Kejriwal has focused on political theatrics,” Trivedi stated.
MP Praveen Khandelwal added to the criticism, calling AAP’s recent announcements, such as honorariums for religious leaders, a hollow strategy to gain votes. “The Delhi treasury is empty, and Kejriwal’s announcements are nothing more than electoral stunts,” he remarked.
With weeks to go before the polls, both parties are leveraging every opportunity to sway voters, setting the stage for a heated electoral battle in the capital.