The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has alleged that a personal assistant (PA) to Delhi Chief Minister Atishi Marlena was caught with Rs 5 lakh in Girikhand Nagar, purportedly meant to be distributed among voters in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Amit Malviya, BJP’s In-charge of the National Information & Technology Department, took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the incident, claiming that a larger conspiracy was underway to influence voters in the Kalkaji constituency.
According to Malviya, an FIR has been lodged, and the authorities are investigating the matter. The BJP has described the incident as a deliberate attempt to sway voter sentiment ahead of crucial elections set to take place the following day.
“Delhi CM Atishi Marlena’s PA caught with Rs 5 lakh in Girikhand Nagar. FIR lodged. A conspiracy is being hatched to buy voters in Kalkaji,” Malviya wrote on X.
This claim surfaced just hours before polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly was set to begin, scheduled for February 5, 2025. Voting is expected to continue until 7 p.m., and results will be counted on February 8.
In another development, former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal faced additional controversy, as an FIR was filed against him in Kurukshetra, Haryana. The charges were linked to his remarks regarding the “poisoning” of the Yamuna river, a statement that sparked significant backlash.
Earlier, during an interview with IANS, Anna Hazare, a veteran social activist and former associate of Kejriwal, voiced strong criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader. Hazare, who once worked alongside Kejriwal in the anti-corruption movement, claimed that Kejriwal had strayed from his original ideals after gaining power. Hazare remarked, “Initially, Arvind was with me, but as soon as power and money clouded his thoughts, things changed.” Hazare explained that Kejriwal’s pivot toward business interests, including his involvement in the liquor trade, led to their falling out.
When asked about Kejriwal’s and his deputy Manish Sisodia’s legal troubles, Hazare firmly stated, “Those who commit bad deeds will have to go to jail. Our country operates according to the law.”
As Delhi prepares to vote for its 70-member legislative assembly, the ruling AAP faces a fierce challenge from the BJP, which is attempting to regain control of the national capital. The AAP, which has been in power for two consecutive terms, is seeking a third straight victory. Meanwhile, the Congress party, which failed to make a substantial impact in previous elections, is hoping to improve its standing in the upcoming race.
This election promises to be a tense and closely contested battle, with issues like governance, corruption, and electoral integrity taking center stage. The developments surrounding the alleged bribery attempt have added another layer of controversy just days before voters cast their ballots.