Delhi BJP hits AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj over waterlogging 'lies', cites 75% drop
Synopsis
Delhi BJP has turned the monsoon into a political battleground, accusing AAP's Saurabh Bharadwaj of fabricating the waterlogging narrative — and backing the charge with a jarring number: 49 deaths in 2024 alone. With a 2028 deadline now on record, the BJP has raised the stakes on urban infrastructure accountability.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on 24 August accused AAP Convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj of spreading misinformation on waterlogging.
BJP claims a 75 per cent reduction in major waterlogging points in 2025 and 2026 .
Key corridors including Minto Road and Zakhira Underpass are reportedly 60–80 per cent better than in 2024 .
Between 2015 and 2023 , an average of 25 people died annually due to waterlogging; in 2024 , the toll rose to 49 , including the Rajendra Nagar coaching institute incident.
CM Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh have been tasked with making Delhi waterlogging-free by 2028 .
BJP National President Nitin Nabin flagged off the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan' at Talkatora Stadium marking Guru Ravidas's 650th birth anniversary .
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor on Monday, 24 August launched a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Delhi Convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj, accusing him of spreading misinformation about waterlogging in the capital. Kapoor asserted that Bharadwaj has relied on 'the politics of lies' throughout his political career, from 2013 to the present.
BJP's Waterlogging Claims
Kapoor stated that waterlogging in Delhi is a decades-old problem, with residents enduring it for the past 27 to 28 years. He claimed, however, that 2025 and 2026 have seen a reduction of up to 75 per cent in major waterlogging points across the city.
Specific corridors cited as showing improvement include Minto Road, Zakhira Underpass, Nangloi-Najafgarh Road, and Sangam Vihar-Deoli Road — where conditions in 2026 are reportedly 60 to 80 per cent better compared to 2024, according to Kapoor.
Death Toll Under AAP's Watch
The BJP spokesperson invoked a stark statistic to counter Bharadwaj's statements: between 2015 and 2023, an average of 25 people died every year in Delhi due to waterlogging-related incidents. In 2024, that figure reportedly surged to 49 deaths, including fatalities linked to the flooding of a coaching institute in Rajendra Nagar.
Kapoor said Bharadwaj should reflect on this record before making what he called misleading statements on the issue. This comes amid the ongoing monsoon season and renewed public debate over Delhi's drainage infrastructure.
What the BJP Government Has Promised
Kapoor assured residents that under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, the city will be free of waterlogging by 2028. He added that while some waterlogging may still occur during heavy rainfall, it will be cleared within 15 minutes of rain stopping.
Guru Ravidas Anniversary Event
Separately, on the occasion of the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji, a 'Pavan Mati Kalash — Vandan and Distribution' programme was organised at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi.
BJP National President Nitin Nabin flagged off vehicles carrying sacred soil brought from Varanasi to all 14 districts of Delhi. The initiative, part of the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan', carries the message of devotion, social harmony, and equality, according to the party.
As the monsoon season intensifies, the political battle over Delhi's waterlogging crisis is set to deepen, with both BJP and AAP staking claim to public accountability on urban infrastructure.
Point of View
And the Rajendra Nagar deaths of 2024 remain a raw wound. By attaching a body count to AAP's decade in power and a 2028 deadline to its own tenure, the BJP is framing urban drainage as an accountability test. The 75 per cent improvement claim, however, comes without independent verification, and Delhi's drainage network has resisted political fixes for nearly three decades. Whether the numbers hold under scrutiny — or dissolve like floodwater — will determine whether this attack lands or backfires.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Delhi BJP attacking Saurabh Bharadwaj over waterlogging?
Delhi BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor accused AAP Convenor Saurabh Bharadwaj of making misleading statements about waterlogging in Delhi, calling it consistent with what he described as Bharadwaj's pattern of misinformation since 2013. The attack came on 24 August amid the ongoing monsoon season and public debate over the capital's drainage infrastructure.
How many people died due to waterlogging in Delhi in 2024?
According to BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor, 49 people died due to waterlogging in Delhi in 2024, including fatalities from the flooding of a coaching institute in Rajendra Nagar. Between 2015 and 2023, the average annual death toll from waterlogging was reportedly 25.
What improvement in waterlogging has the BJP claimed for 2026?
The BJP has claimed a reduction of up to 75 per cent in major waterlogging points in Delhi in 2025 and 2026. Specific areas like Minto Road, Zakhira Underpass, and Nangloi-Najafgarh Road are said to be 60 to 80 per cent better compared to 2024, according to Kapoor.
When has the BJP promised to make Delhi waterlogging-free?
BJP Spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor assured residents that Delhi will be free of waterlogging by 2028, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Water Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh. He added that any residual waterlogging during heavy rain will be cleared within 15 minutes of the rain stopping.
What was the Guru Ravidas event held alongside these political developments?
A 'Pavan Mati Kalash — Vandan and Distribution' programme was organised at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi to mark the 650th birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji. BJP National President Nitin Nabin flagged off vehicles carrying sacred soil from Varanasi to all 14 districts of Delhi as part of the 'Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan'.
