The political battle for the Delhi Assembly elections is heating up with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of trying to sway voters by distributing gold chains, sarees, shoes, and cash while urging voters to resist these attempts.
Dubbing BJP as ‘Gali galoch party’ and calling the individual who distribute money as a ‘threat to the democracy’, Kejriwal said, “Vote for whoever you want to, but the one who is trying to buy your vote and destroy this country, don’t vote for him. The one who is distributing jackets, blankets and cash to you is a traitor of the country. Take all the money from him but swear to God, never vote for him,” he said, urging citizens in a video message to prioritise democracy over material offerings.
He reminded voters of the sacrifices made by B R Ambedkar to secure their right to vote. “Babasaheb Ambedkar fought with everyone and said that every person in this country, whether literate or illiterate, whether rich or poor, every person should have the right to vote,” he said.
“The struggle that Babasaheb did for you, and fought with the rest of the people to get you the vote, doesn’t let that vote be sold in a sari or a blanket for 1100 rupees,” the AAP Convenor added.
“If our votes can be purchased, then our democracy will end. There will only be the rule of the wealthy. Vote for anyone but not for those distributing money,” he said.
Hitting out at the BJP, Kejriwal said, “The money that is being distributed is not from the government’s money. It is being distributed by a few politicians of ‘Gali Galoch Party’. Where did they get this money from? This is their corruption money, which they have looted the country in the wrong way and earned it. All the money that they are distributing, all the goods that they are distributing, take it all but do not vote for them.”
As AAP battles to retain its stronghold for a third consecutive term, the BJP is aiming for a comeback after 25 years. Kejriwal also addressed concerns about voter intimidation, assuring the public that their votes remain confidential. Voting for the elections is slated to be held on February 5 and the election results will be declared on February 8.
