Kejriwal delivered zero development in 11 years: Virendra

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal. The BJP President claimed that the former chief minister’s 11-year tenure in Delhi and 3.5 years in Punjab delivered “zero development”, while the one-year-old BJP Government in Delhi has ushered in visible change.

Addressing a press interaction in New Delhi, Sachdeva said it was ironic that AAP leaders were questioning the performance of a government that has completed just one year. “After ruling Delhi for 11 years and now governing Punjab for three-and-a-half years, they have delivered zero development. Yet they want to question a one-year-old Government,” he said.

He also alleged that Kejriwal raises questions about the BJP Governments in Gujarat and Goa despite being repeatedly rejected by voters there. “The problem with Arvind Kejriwal and AAP is that whenever they get some political space, they start blaming the BJP for everything from Delhi and Punjab to Gujarat, Goa, and even international matters,” Sachdeva said.

Highlighting the BJP Government’s first year in Delhi, Sachdeva said Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has set a national example by presenting her government’s report card across all seven parliamentary constituencies within seven days. He described it as a unique outreach initiative aimed at transparency and accountability.

The Delhi BJP chief said that through departments such as the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Jal Board, Flood Control Department and Transport Department, the Delhi Government has initiated development works worth thousands of crores of rupees. He added that an allocation of Rs 100 crore has been made as separate development funds for each Assembly constituency, giving public representatives greater scope to execute projects.

Contrasting the previous regime with the current one, Sachdeva alleged that Kejriwal’s 11-year tenure was marked by corruption, scams and controversies such as the “Sheesh Mahal”. In comparison, he claimed, the BJP’s one year has been defined by development and systemic reform. He said the Government has introduced nearly Rs 1 lakh crore worth of new schemes. These include new sewage treatment plants (STPs), a new sewer master plan and initial steps toward cleaning the Yamuna. He also cited improvements in road infrastructure, induction of new buses and citizen-oriented reforms in house tax and Jal Board schemes. Sachdeva maintained that the BJP Government is focused on governance and infrastructure rather than political rhetoric. He said the allocation of substantial funds to each Assembly constituency reflects the administration’s intent to decentralise development and empower elected representatives.

The remarks came in response to recent statements made by Arvind Kejriwal, who has criticised the BJP-led Government’s performance in Delhi. There was no immediate response from the AAP to Sachdeva’s latest comments.

The political exchange signals an intensifying war of words between the BJP and AAP, even as the BJP Government completes its first year in office and positions itself as a development-focused administration.