The debut of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi Cantonment Board polls on Monday was not without its share of controversy. The party which brands itself as the flag bearer of anti-corruption and transparent politics faced huge embarrassment when supporters of Nand Kishore Beniwal, the only AAP leader to win the Delhi Cantt governing board election, were seen leading a victory procession and throwing up wads of money in the air. After being caught in the act, both the party and Beniwal distanced itself from the incident. When AAP leaders were asked about the conduct of the party’s workers, its spokesperson Ashutosh said, “We don’t approve of it, we have ordered a probe into this.”
While the party said that it has suspended the supporter who was seen throwing money in the air in the TV footage, Beniwal said he didn’t “authorise” the manner of celebration. “I am not aware who threw the money. But I condemn this kind of celebration strongly. Neither my party not myself will approve of such acts,” said Beniwal. AAP leader Raghav Chadha said that the person who threw money in air was not an office-bearer of the party.
The BJP, however, was quick to react to the development and said that it showed the money power the fledgling party was depending on to win the polls. “We have always raised questions about AAP’s funding. Besides, the Delhi Cantt result is a first shock of the New Year to the AAP who was the self declared first choice of the people of Delhi,” said Delhi BJP Chief Satish Upadhayay.
Out of eight seats, the BJP won five while the Congress won two. The AAP made a debut by winning one seat which was Ward number five. The Delhi cantonment governing board, which has eight members, manages public health, street lighting and other civic facilities in an area spread over 11,000 acres in the national capital. The BJP won four of those seats, the Congress two.