Kejriwal Submits Nomination for New Delhi Assembly Seat
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Synopsis
Arvind Kejriwal, AAP's leader, filed his nomination for the New Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5. He criticized the BJP and sought blessings at local temples while facing allegations related to an excise policy case.
Key Takeaways
- Kejriwal filed nomination for New Delhi Assembly.
- Criticized BJP for lack of vision.
- Visited temples for blessings before nomination.
- Facing allegations related to excise policy.
- Election set for February 5, counting on February 8.
New Delhi, Jan 15 (NationPress) Arvind Kejriwal, the national convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and candidate for the New Delhi Assembly seat, officially submitted his nomination papers on Wednesday in preparation for the upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for February 5.
He was joined by his wife, son, daughters, and sister.
Following the submission of his nomination, Kejriwal called on voters to support the AAP, criticizing the BJP for being abusive and failing to contribute positively to Delhi, asserting that the BJP lacks a clear vision for the residents of the national capital.
Prior to filing his nomination, Kejriwal visited the Maharishi Valmiki Temple and Pracheen Hanuman Mandir located in Connaught Place to seek divine blessings.
After his temple visits, he stated to reporters, "From here, we will head to the party office and then proceed to file my nomination together." He added that many mothers and sisters from across Delhi would be accompanying him to the election office to offer their blessings.
When questioned about intelligence reports indicating a potential threat to his safety, Kejriwal confidently remarked, "As long as God is with me, no one can harm me."
Kejriwal is competing against BJP's Parvesh Verma and Congress's Sandeep Dikshit for the New Delhi constituency. The election for the 70-member Assembly is set for February 5, with vote counting to occur on February 8.
Additionally, Kejriwal is currently facing allegations related to the excise policy case. The Centre has authorized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to take legal action against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), following approval from Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena.
He and the AAP are accused of receiving bribes from the so-called "South Group," a cartel believed to have monopolized liquor sales and profited from the Delhi government's 2021-22 excise policy.
Kejriwal, who is presently out on bail, has denied these allegations and charged the BJP with leveraging central agencies to target political adversaries.
The election campaign has turned into a fierce contest among AAP, BJP, and Congress, with all parties exchanging accusations of corruption and misgovernance.
The “Sheesh Mahal” incident, which pertains to alleged extravagant spending on Kejriwal's official residence during his term as Chief Minister, has also emerged as a significant topic in the campaign.
With only weeks left until the election, the political atmosphere in Delhi is charged as all parties intensify their efforts to influence voters.
