New Delhi: Tens of people queued up to file their nomination papers from the New Delhi constituency Tuesday, the last date, forcing CM Arvind Kejriwal to wait for over six hours before his turn came, in what the AAP has alleged was a “conspiracy” by the BJP.
Kejriwal, who arrived at the returning officer’s office in Jamnagar House around noon, finally filed his nomination just before 7pm. This came a day after the Delhi chief minister failed to file his nomination Monday because his roadshow got delayed.
With more than 40 candidates waiting since noon to file their nominations and delays in paperwork slowing down the process, Tuesday’s 3pm deadline was extended.
Congress candidate for the constituency, Romesh Sabharwal, was waiting to file his nomination at the time of publishing this report.
My Token number is 61. I think it will take time few hours more.I don’t know how many locals are submitting nominations. I belong to government servants families I don’t know how many belongs to our community. We are all inside & their is no canteen.
— Romesh Sabharwal Congress candidate NewDelhi (@RomeshSabharwal) January 21, 2020
Multiple AAP leaders took to Twitter to express their anger and hinted at a conspiracy behind the delay.
Responding to Greater Kailash MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj’s tweet on the “deliberate delay” in Kejriwal filing his nomination, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said BJP leaders may try their best, but they will not be able to stop Kejriwal from filing his nominations and returning as chief minister for the third time. “…Your conspiracy will never succeed,” wrote Sisodia.
Around 35 candidates sitting at RO office with CM, without proper nomination papers , without even 10 proposers. They r calling their proposers on phone to come.
They r insisting unless their papers r complete and they file Nomination, they won't allow CM to file Nomination.
— Saurabh Bharadwaj (@Saurabh_MLAgk) January 21, 2020
बीजेपी ने @ArvindKejriwal से पहले आज 45 उम्मीदवार पर्चे भरने के लिए लाइन में लगा दिए हैं. चुनाव आयोग जानबूझकर हर उम्मीदवार को आधा या एक घंटा दिए जा रहा है, जिसके काग़ज़ पूरे नही है उसे भी, जिसके प्रस्तावक नही है उनको भी, ताकि @ArvindKejriwal को पर्चा भरने से रोका जा सके. https://t.co/obLA4RpekV
— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 21, 2020
AAP media adviser Nagendar Sharma too blamed the BJP for “resorting to such below the belt tactics”.
By resorting to such below the belt tactics, BJP has announced its imminent defeat. Try these tricks with tired and grand old parties. Not with those bubbling with energy and ideas. https://t.co/NEUMfce7hL
— Nagendar Sharma (@sharmanagendar) January 21, 2020
Kejriwal retweeted Bharadwaj, saying it didn’t matter as many people were filing nomination for the first time. “They are bound to make mistakes. We also made mistakes the first time. We should hand hold them,” the CM tweeted, adding that he was enjoying waiting with them and they are all a part of his family.
Doesn’t matter. Many of them r filing for the first time. They r bound to make mistakes. We also made mistakes the first time. We shud hand hold them. I am enjoying waiting wid them. They r all part of my family. https://t.co/9s8hRDnjSU
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020
Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers. Am so glad so many people participating in democracy.
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020
Former AAP member Kumar Vishwas also took this opportunity to take a dig at the Delhi CM by mocking Kejirwal’s “misuse” of the term family.
फ़ैमिली ? जिस अन्ना को पिता कहा,जिस योगेंद्र यादव को बड़ा भाई कहा, जिस दोस्त को छोटा भाई कहा, उन सब के साथ जैसा षड्यंत्रकारी हत्यारों जैसा व्यवहार किया था, इन बेचारों के साथ भी वैसा ही व्यवहार करोगे क्या ?? कम से कम, “परिवार-संस्कार-सरोकार” जैसे शब्दों को तो बख्श दो अब ??? https://t.co/TPviBr6NRT
— Dr Kumar Vishvas (@DrKumarVishwas) January 21, 2020
Also read: AAP as Avengers & ‘Thanos’ Modi — Kejriwal party gives Delhi poll campaign pop-culture spin