New Delhi: Preparing literature about the “misrule” of the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi, stepping up the exercise to “break away” and induct Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers, and avoiding making statements that could create a sympathy wave for Kejriwal — these are some of the “immediate” steps the BJP is taking as part of its strategy for the Lok Sabha election, ThePrint has learnt.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP president Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) Thursday in connection with the excise policy case after hours of questioning at his residence.
“AAP workers and leaders are protesting after Kejriwal’s arrest. The BJP is also busy devising a strategy on his arrest. We are quite sure the AAP will try to take advantage of the sympathy wave. This is why we are already preparing literature in the form of pamphlets and posters highlighting the liquor scam and how the party tried to loot the common people. An ‘aarop part’ (allegation segment) is also being prepared which will highlight other failures of the Kejriwal government,” said a senior BJP leader.
“AAP will certainly try to capitalise on the wave of sympathy in favour of Kejriwal after his arrest before the elections. To ensure they are not able to spread any false narrative, our workers will go door-to-door and highlight the welfare measures of the Modi government and how they have transformed the lives of people,” a second BJP leader said.
There are seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi and 13 in Punjab, which is also under the AAP. In the wake of the general election as well as keeping in mind the 2025 Delhi polls, the BJP state unit is sharpening attack on its rival by highlighting Kejriwal’s arrest for “corruption”.
A third senior BJP leader told ThePrint that party functionaries in Delhi were told to be “careful” while making statements and not make personal attacks, but rather focus on the “misrule and corruption” of the AAP government in Delhi and Punjab.
“The Delhi BJP has been protesting against the liquor scam for quite some time; we saw how (Delhi deputy CM) Manish Sisodia was arrested (in February 2023) and his role in the entire episode. Arvind Kejriwal entered politics and became the CM by protesting against corruption. He had targeted the former Delhi CM (Sheila Dikshit), too. And now, he himself has been jailed on corruption charges,” the leader claimed.
When asked what impact Kejriwal’s arrest would have on public sentiment ahead of the polls and whether its timing was suspect, BJP’s Lok Sabha candidate from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari told ThePrint: “The law doesn’t look at elections and timing. The ED is doing its work. We were sure of our win before the arrest and are sure of it now also.”
Senior BJP leader and in-charge of Delhi Baijayant Panda said Kejriwal had “betrayed” the people of Delhi.
“Arvind Kejriwal betrayed the hopes of all those who had believed in fighting against corruption, including Anna Hazare. He betrayed the people of Delhi by indulging in massive corruption. The prima facie evidence and money trail was such that his arrested senior colleagues could not get bail, based on which the high court denied him any protection. A thief on the run cannot avoid punishment under the law for long,” he told ThePrint.
Also Read: ‘Rs 100 cr kickbacks, cartels & Facetime call with Kejriwal’: ED chargesheet in liquor scam case
‘People need to understand how AAP govt functions’
Ahead of the 2022 Delhi civic elections too, the BJP had come up with the strategy of targeting the AAP government over “corruption”. Its main focus then, too, was the alleged liquor scam to blunt its rival’s anti-graft plank.
“The central leadership keeps on reviewing the activities of the state, and it was found ahead of the municipal elections that the issue of corruption was resonating with the people. And the party continued to focus on it. Though it is too early to gauge the impact of Kejriwal’s arrest, an assessment was made and it was felt that revelations related to corruption and misgovernance need to be made on a daily basis so that people can understand how the AAP government functions,” said a fourth BJP leader.
The second BJP leader said the party will also wait and see how things unfold. “We have to first see how the AAP handles the situation. We don’t want to jump into the issue when Kejriwal has been arrested on charges of corruption. We need to gauge the response of the general public and a long-term strategy will be devised based on such inputs.”
The third leader claimed that there wasn’t much public support on the ground for the AAP.
“The AAP and Kejriwal make big claims about the kind of public support they enjoy but after his arrest, apart from a handful of people, we haven’t seen much public support on the ground. Not just the common public but even his own workers are disillusioned and have not hit the streets compared to the support he had received when he sat on a dharna before Republic Day (in 2014) in front of the Rail Bhawan. A lot has changed now, and people have understood his game. We just need to go out and spread the word,” said the leader.
According to BJP leaders, a joining committee is busy screening AAP leaders who want to switch over to the BJP, with many workers “unsure” of the party’s future.
“The liquor scam is one of the major issues that the state as well as central leaders have been highlighting, since the AAP came to power on an anti-corruption agenda but has been indulging in graft itself. We will show its real face to the people, and already many disgruntled and disillusioned AAP workers and leaders are queuing up to join the BJP,” said the first BJP leader.
Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva termed the AAP’s “shameless” protest against the arrest of Kejriwal as an example of “chor machaye shor” (thief crying foul).
“Kejriwal skipped nine ED summonses. He will now have to answer the ED because he was involved in corruption, and that is why he has been arrested,” Sachdeva told reporters.
At a press conference Friday, AAP national general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak lashed out at the BJP and PM Narendra Modi for ‘murdering democracy’ by illegally arresting the opposition leaders right before the Lok Sabha elections.
“There is an undeclared emergency-like situation in the country today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP are doing everything to eliminate the opposition parties. They are either putting the opposition leaders in jail or threatening them to join the BJP. Those who are joining the BJP, are given clean chit, and those who are opposing their dictatorship, are treated with injustice, atrocities and illegal arrest,” Pathal said.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)