Delhi Polls: Kejriwal Seeks EC Action Against BJP’s Parvesh Verma

Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP national convenor, has lodged a formal complaint against the BJP's New Delhi candidate, Parvesh Verma, accusing him of contravening the Model Code of Conduct. In a meeting with the Election Commissioner on Thursday, Kejriwal presented a list of allegations, highlighting activities such as distributing money, organizing job camps, and engaging youth. Kejriwal underscored the severity of these actions, suggesting they warranted a police raid on Verma's residence to investigate financial irregularities. Despite these accusations, Kejriwal perceives a lack of action from poll officers, allegedly due to pressure from the BJP.

In a significant declaration, Kejriwal dismissed rumors propagated by BJP leaders that he would contest from a second seat in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections due to fears of defeat in New Delhi. He confirmed his intention to run from a single constituency, emphasizing the direct competition between AAP and BJP in the region. Kejriwal's statement came in response to BJP's IT cell chief Amit Malviya's social media post, which accused him of fearing a loss in New Delhi and making unfounded claims regarding the voter list.

Kejriwal, who has been a New Delhi MLA since 2013, faces a challenging battle against candidates with deep political legacies in Delhi. The BJP has nominated Parvesh Verma, son of former chief minister Sahib Singh Verma, while the Congress has chosen Sandeep Dikshit, son of three-term chief minister Sheila Dikshit. This election pits Kejriwal in a tight race that extends beyond party lines into a matter of familial political heritage.

Moreover, the AAP leader criticized the BJP for attempting to manipulate electoral rolls by requesting the deletion of thousands of AAP supporters' names across various constituencies, including New Delhi. This move, according to Kejriwal, represents a direct attack on the democratic process and the rights of voters in the capital.

Kejriwal also expressed gratitude towards the INDIA bloc members, including the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and Shiv Sena (UBT), for their support in the Assembly elections. This endorsement from prominent political entities underscores the broader opposition unity against the BJP in Delhi. Despite this backing, the Congress, a key player in the INDIA bloc, has chosen to contest the Delhi elections independently, announcing its candidates for 48 seats.

In the midst of these political maneuvers, Kejriwal has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a request to include the Jat community in the OBC list ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls. This appeal highlights the socio-political strategies employed by AAP to consolidate support within diverse community segments of Delhi's electorate.