BJP candidate asserts Kejriwal cannot perform CM duties due to Supreme Court restrictions, highlights BJP’s focus on slum redevelopment.
New Delhi, January 13: BJP candidate Parvesh Verma, contesting from the New Delhi Assembly constituency, launched a fierce critique of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, asserting that the latter’s bail conditions prevent him from resuming the role of Delhi Chief Minister. The seat is currently represented by Kejriwal himself.
Verma alleged that Kejriwal's bail, granted by the Supreme Court in a money laundering case linked to the scrapped Delhi Excise Policy, restricts him from accessing the CM office, signing files, or visiting the Secretariat.
“No matter how hard he tries, Arvind Kejriwal cannot become the Chief Minister of Delhi. His bail conditions bar him from performing these duties,” Verma told ANI.
Bail Conditions and Allegations
Kejriwal was granted bail on September 13, 2024, under conditions that included furnishing a Rs 10 lakh surety bond and attending all trial hearings unless formally exempted. His bail conditions also barred him from entering the CM office or signing any official files.
Criticism Over Slum Development
Verma accused Kejriwal of neglecting slum redevelopment, claiming that the BJP’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY-Urban) has been the real driver of housing improvements in Delhi.
“All slum dwellers know that nothing has happened in the past 10 years under Kejriwal’s government. If anyone has received a house, it is due to Prime Minister Modi's efforts,” Verma stated, adding that slum residents have greeted Kejriwal with black flags during his campaign visits.
Verma also narrated an instance of unmet housing promises, where residents of Bhartiya Nagar deposited Rs 70,000 with the Delhi government over a decade ago but are still awaiting houses.
AAP’s Counterclaim and Bulldozer Allegations
Kejriwal, in turn, accused the BJP of planning large-scale slum demolitions, alleging that the party intends to render people homeless within the next five years. He cited bulldozer actions in Shakur Basti and claimed the Delhi LG altered land use rules to enable demolitions.
“They do not want to build houses for the poor. The BJP is lying. Their LG has changed the rules,” Kejriwal asserted during a slum visit.
LG Responds to Allegations
Delhi LG Vinai Kumar Saxena rejected Kejriwal's claims as “complete lies,” asserting that the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has not issued any eviction or demolition notices. Saxena accused Kejriwal of deliberately misleading the public for political gain.
Elections on the Horizon
The Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with vote counting on February 8. As the BJP and AAP trade barbs over housing and slum development, the battle for Delhi intensifies.
