Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday made clear his poll strategy of using free electricity to catapult his party to power in Punjab — a tactic AAP successfully applied in Delhi and was criticised for by its rivals in the National capital.
In a powerful move to boost the party’s poll campaign ahead of the 2022 elections, Kejriwal reached the state capital and announced 300 units of “free” power for every household, besides other sops, that AAP would offer to Punjabis if voted to power.
Kejriwal, unveiling the party’s poll strategy, announced 300 free units of electricity to all domestic consumers, waiving off all outstanding arrears or unpaid bills, restoration of all disconnected electricity connections, 24-hour uninterrupted power supply while also making it clear that all existing electricity schemes and benefits would continue.
“The existing beneficiaries of 200 units of free electricity will get 300 units, to be charged only for over and above 300 units,” said Kejriwal.
“This is Kejriwal’s guarantee, and not Captain’s (Amarinder Singh) promises. Soon after AAP forms the government, the announcement about 300 units and bill waiver will be implemented immediately. But ensuring 24-hour supply will take two-three years as it will take three years for us to upgrade the infrastructure, and then we will be able to provide uninterrupted power supply,” said Kejriwal while addressing the media along with entire state leadership.
Kejriwal said that power units, exceeding 300 free units, will be charged as per general rate from the consumers. “All existing beneficiary categories, which were getting 200 free units like SCs, BCs, BPL families, freedom fighters will now get 300 free units. They will be charged only for over and above 300 units,” he said.
“If any of these beneficiaries consume 350 units in a month, he will be charged for only 50 overstepped units. The remaining 300 units will be totally free for the consumer,” he clarified.
“When we made this announcement in Delhi, even then we were asked where the funds were. It is magic and we know how to do it. I have done my calculations,” said Kejriwal, adding, “Punjab Government claims to spend Rs 60,000 on every citizen. Where does the money go? It goes to liquor and the sand mafia. We will stop all these mafia and end contracts with private companies. There is no shortage of funds, there is lack of intent.”
Making announcements, Kejriwal said that it was his “guarantee” which will be fulfilled on the very first day of the AAP government unlike tall promises of Capt Amarinder Singh, that were never fulfilled. AAP supremo said that the power tariff in Punjab was the highest even though the state generates its own electricity.
“That’s because private power producers are in collusion with the State Government. We need to end this to make power cheaper in Punjab,” he said.
He said that the long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) were signed by the previous Government in Delhi too but AAP’s government managed to find a solution. “We have shown it in Delhi, and will do it in Punjab. It is my guarantee. We will take the decision in two days of forming the government,” he said.
Notably, AAP has all along been raising the issue of hefty power tariff in Punjab, besides taking on the ruling Congress Government for not fulfilling its promise of cancelling the power purchase agreements signed by the previous SAD-BJP government.
He said that when AAP MLAs visit villages and meet people, they complain about inflated bills. “Bhagwant told me that a poor man with one fan and two bulbs in the house got a bill of Rs 50,900 and his supply was disconnected for non-payment,” said Kejriwal declaring that AAP will waive off all such old bills and restore power connections.
AAP leader pointed that people are using illegal ‘kundi’ connections in Punjab’s villages as one cannot live without power. “We will restore the dignity of such families,” he declared.
As was indicated through his tweets a day before, Kejriwal said that the people of Punjab, especially women, will benefit from these announcements. “When we first fought the 2013 elections, it was the same situation in Delhi. People used to get inflated bills and the private companies were hand in glove with the state,” he added.
“According to our calculations 77 to 80 percent households will now get zero power bill. In Delhi, 73 percent of families get zero bill. Punjab is power surplus and yet there are long cuts. We will ensure uninterrupted supply,” he said.
Stating that the Government with good intentions will be brought, Kejriwal said that AAP Government will give facilities to the poor people by eliminating the mafia and generating revenue in the State.
Welcoming Arvind Kejriwal, AAP state president Bhagwant Mann said that the announcements made by Kejriwal regarding electricity for the people of Punjab would be fulfilled with guarantee and the state leadership would work diligently in this regard. He said that the biggest pain for the people of Punjab today was expensive electricity, for which the AAP had been raising its voice.
“AAP gives guarantees to and those announced in Delhi have been delivered. Power tariff is one of the 18-points flagged by the Congress high command to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. It shows that the ruling party has failed to fulfill its promises,” said Mann.
