The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress on Tuesday staged a protest against the Arvind Kejriwal Government over the power tariff hike in the city. Delhi BJP MLAs staged a sit-in near the Chief Minister’s residence in the Civil Lines area over hike in the electricity tariff in the city.

The Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri led the protest and said power tariff has been increased three times from what it was before 2014.

Electricity distribution companies here have increased the power purchase adjustment cost (PPAC) by upto more than nine per cent following approval of the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission, DERC, which would result in a hike in the monthly bills of consumers not getting subsidy.

 The BJP will continue to protest against the PPAC hike unless it is reversed by the Kejriwal government, Bidhuri said.  “Why Kejriwal who frequently calls special sessions of the Assembly on different issues is not convening a special session now to discuss the electricity rates?” a protesting BJP MLA asked, with many echoing this.

The Delhi Congress on Tuesday staged a demonstration against the AAP government in Delhi over a hike in power tariffs in the national Capital. Party leaders and workers, who gathered outside the AAP’s office in central Delhi, alleged that the city government has “failed to fulfil its promise” of providing free electricity to consumers. Congress leader Jai Kishan said that Atishi has misled the people on the power tariff hike.

The Aam Aadmi Party government always claims that since they came to power, electricity rates in the capital have not increased.

However, the reality is that every year, permission is given to electricity companies to hike rates through the “backdoor”, they charged.

“Electricity bills are burdening the public due to fixed charges, power purchase adjustment costs, and surcharge for pensions for retired electricity employees,” Bidhuri claimed.

 On Monday, Delhi’s Power Minister Atishi had said the power tariff was increasing due to the Centre’s mismanagement”.