Kejriwal: BJP hijacked democracy, Punjab shows pro-incumbency after 4 years
Synopsis
Arvind Kejriwal told AAP's Punjab MLAs that the BJP has 'hijacked and destroyed democracy', citing alleged deletion of 42,000 votes in his own constituency. With Punjab elections ten months away, he framed the state as the decisive battleground that could end the Modi government — a bold claim that sets the tone for AAP's 2026 campaign.
Key Takeaways
Arvind Kejriwal addressed AAP Punjab MLAs at Kapurthala House, New Delhi on 5 May , alleging the BJP has "hijacked and destroyed democracy." He claimed 42,000 votes were deleted from his New Delhi constituency while he was in jail, turning a 30,000-vote win into a 3,000-vote loss .
Kejriwal asserted Punjab is experiencing pro-incumbency after four years of AAP government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann .
He warned that a BJP government in Punjab would hand over the Bhakra Dam , Chandigarh , and Panjab University to Haryana and reimpose farm laws.
He predicted the February 2026 Punjab elections would mark "the end of the Modi government."
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on 5 May launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging it has "hijacked and destroyed democracy" across India, while asserting that Punjab is experiencing rare pro-incumbency sentiment four years into the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Kejriwal made the remarks at Kapurthala House in New Delhi, the official residence of the Punjab CM, while addressing AAP MLAs who had earlier submitted a memorandum to the President.
Pro-Incumbency Claim in Punjab
Addressing the legislators, Kejriwal said, "It has been four years since our government was formed, and 10 months are left for the elections. In the final year before elections, it is very rare for people to praise a government. Usually, after four years, people say there is strong anti-incumbency. But in Punjab, you can go to any village or any locality, and today there is no anti-incumbency; instead, there is pro-incumbency."
He claimed that people across the state are openly praising the Punjab government and described the public support as "widespread and wholehearted." The remarks come as AAP begins to gear up for the Punjab Assembly elections scheduled for February 2026.
Attack on BJP Over Democracy and Vote Manipulation
Kejriwal alleged that the BJP has deployed central agencies, financial muscle, and electoral manipulation to undermine democratic outcomes. "They use agencies like the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), money power, horse-trading of MLAs, break parties, topple governments, send leaders to jail, get votes deleted and added," he said.
He specifically cited what he described as large-scale vote deletion in his own New Delhi assembly constituency, alleging that the voter count dropped from 1,48,000 to 1,06,000 — a reduction of approximately 42,000 votes — during the period he was in jail. "I had won the previous election by 30,000 votes, but after 42,000 votes were deleted, I lost by 3,000 votes. How can anyone win when all the votes are deleted?" he said. He also pointed to West Bengal, Bihar, and Maharashtra as states where he alleged similar electoral irregularities occurred.
Historical Parallel: Ashwamedha Horse
Recalling the BJP's electoral dominance post-2014, Kejriwal drew on a Ramayana allegory, comparing the party's winning streak to the Ashwamedha horse released by Lord Ram. He credited the people of Delhi and AAP with halting that streak in the February 2015 Delhi elections, when the BJP won only three out of 70 seats despite a strong national wave in its favour.
He warned, however, that the BJP is once again building momentum — winning in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Delhi — and argued that the upcoming Punjab elections would be the next decisive check. "After the Punjab elections, the Modi government will fall. The end of the Modi government will come through Punjab," he said.
Warning on Punjab's Resources and Farm Laws
Kejriwal urged AAP MLAs to go door-to-door, telling voters that the BJP "hates Punjab and Punjabis." He alleged that despite holding full power at the Centre, the BJP has withheld Punjab's rightful dues, including funds through the Rural Development Fund (RDF).
He further warned that a BJP government in Punjab would, according to him, divert Punjab's water and hand over the Bhakra Dam to Haryana, transfer Chandigarh and Panjab University to Haryana, and reimpose the three farm laws he described as "black" laws. With ten months to polling, Kejriwal's address signals that AAP is entering full campaign mode in what it regards as its most consequential electoral battle yet.
Point of View
000 votes in a single constituency — but it remains an assertion without independent verification, and the Election Commission has not been cited as having upheld any such finding. The Ashwamedha analogy is rhetorically effective, but the comparison between 2015 Delhi and 2026 Punjab glosses over a crucial difference: AAP is now the incumbent, not the insurgent. Framing Punjab as the 'end of Modi' is a high-stakes gamble that could energise the base or overextend expectations if the election is closer than claimed.
NationPress
10 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Arvind Kejriwal allege against the BJP at the AAP Punjab MLAs meeting?
Kejriwal alleged that the BJP has hijacked and destroyed democracy by using agencies like the ED and CBI, deleting voter rolls, horse-trading MLAs, and toppling governments. He made these remarks on 5 May at Kapurthala House in New Delhi while addressing AAP MLAs from Punjab.
What is the vote deletion allegation Kejriwal raised about his New Delhi constituency?
Kejriwal claimed that 42,000 votes were deleted from his New Delhi assembly constituency while he was in jail, reducing the voter count from 1,48,000 to 1,06,000. He said this turned his earlier 30,000-vote winning margin into a 3,000-vote loss in the subsequent election.
Why did Kejriwal invoke the Ashwamedha horse analogy?
Kejriwal used the Ramayana reference to compare the BJP's post-2014 electoral winning streak to the Ashwamedha horse, crediting AAP and Delhi voters with halting it in the 2015 Delhi elections when BJP won only 3 of 70 seats. He argued Punjab will similarly stop the BJP in February 2026.
What warnings did Kejriwal issue about a potential BJP government in Punjab?
Kejriwal warned that if the BJP forms a government in Punjab, it would divert Punjab's water and hand over the Bhakra Dam, Chandigarh, and Panjab University to Haryana, and reimpose what he called the three 'black' farm laws in the state.
When are the next Punjab Assembly elections?
The Punjab Assembly elections are scheduled for February 2026, approximately ten months from the time of Kejriwal's address. AAP is the incumbent party in Punjab, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann leading the government.
