The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday accused Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Manoj Tiwari of projecting Sunita Kaushik, a candidate in the municipal polls as a slum dweller.
“The information that has come to light is shocking. Tiwari gave ticket to a millionaire while pretending that a slum dweller was being given the opportunity. While it is not wrong to have a millionaire as a candidate but in this case it was a mere stunt,” said Dilip Pandey, AAP spokesperson.
Incidentally, Kaushik’s election affidavit has revealed that she has two houses and jewellery worth Rs 90 lakh.
At the time of ticket distribution, Tiwari had named Kaushik as a candidate after meeting her during one of his night stays at a slum, as part of the BJP's efforts to extend its base in strongholds of the AAP.
In an affidavit submitted to the State Election Commission along with her nomination, she disclosed that she owned two buildings measuring 720 square feet and 553 square feet whose market price is Rs 50 lakh and Rs 32 lakh respectively.
Her husband, Shashi Bhushan, also owns property worth Rs 10 lakh. The couple also possesses jewellery and bullion worth Rs 7 lakh. Sunita’s share in it is worth Rs 6 lakh.
Speaking to The Pioneer, Nand Kishore, office in-charge of Sunita Kaushik said that neither BJP nor did she project herself as slum dweller. “When Manoj Tiwari visited here, she told him that no leader wants to work here while political leaders take walks in slum areas just for the campaigning,” he said.
He further added that she requested to Tiwari for the ticket because she is a social activist and want to contest from a slum area. However, the AAP used the opportunity to take
aim at Tiwari’s attempts to woo the Poorvanchali population, mainly residents of slum clusters and unauthorised colonies.
“He does not understand the pain of the slum dwellers or those living in unauthorised colonies. The allegations of BJP's grassroot-level workers are proving to be true that crores were exchanged in ticket distribution,” Pandey said.
The Pioneer also tried to contact Sunita Kaushik but she was not available.