New Delhi: “Desh maange Narendra Modi, Dilli maange Kejriwal” (the country wants Narendra Modi, Delhi wants Kejriwal).
Large hoardings bearing this message have come up in parts of Delhi, at the behest of Deepak Madan, who identifies himself as a swayamsevak or volunteer of the BJP’s ideological parent, the RSS.
The hoardings have left several political parties and leaders, including Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) that rules Delhi, scratching their heads.
Madan, however, clarified that he was “speaking for himself” through the hoardings, not any political party.
“I am a member of the RSS and also associated with the BJP. But the party does not define me… I am speaking for myself,” he told ThePrint.
Madan feels that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the greatest leader India can have and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal the tallest politician in the city-state.
“I am supporting Kejriwal because I have seen the work he has done for Delhi. He has improved the healthcare system so much… I run an ambulance service in Paschim Vihar and keep taking people to hospitals. I have seen the kind of facilities that hospitals now offer,” Madan said.
He added that education in Delhi has improved significantly in the five years of AAP’s rule. “Government schools are a lot better now, teachers motivate students to study well,” he said.
The hoardings have already been put up in Paschim Vihar, Jwalaheri Chowk, Meera Bagh and other parts of West Delhi, and he plans to erect more across the capital soon.
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‘RSS, BJP supporting AAP?’
Madan’s unique stance, however, has stumped AAP members, who told ThePrint they are unaware of who the person is, but have received WhatsApp forwards about the hoardings.
Sharing the photo on Twitter, AAP member Abhishek Gupta wrote: “When RSS/BJP is also saying Kejriwal will win in Delhi, you can understand which way the wind is blowing.” His post has been shared hundreds of times.
जब RSS वाले और बीजेपी के कार्येकर्ता भी बोलने लगे कि "दिल्ली मे तो केजरीवाल" तो आप समझ सकते हैं हवा किस ओर बह रही है। ? pic.twitter.com/LLfjX7aUI3
— Abhishek Gupta (@IACAbhi) January 3, 2020
The posters have raised suspicions about the RSS supporting AAP in the upcoming assembly elections.
The AAP’s strategy to stave off the challenge from the BJP and the Congress in the upcoming assembly polls is to deliver a positive message. Party members have been asked to put special emphasis on the work done by Kejriwal’s government.
“I feel that to become a developed country, we don’t need 50 years… just 10 years is enough. You just need intent,” Kejriwal had said at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit last month.
“In Delhi, elections are now fought on issues. If we had not done the work we’ve done, there would have been no change in the discourse.”
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With inputs from Aneesha Bedi