BJP sets to pitch Kejriwal's ‘nawabi mentality’ against his anti-poor credentials
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New Delhi: The BJP has intensified its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Delhi, accusing Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of being anti-poor and corrupt. The move is seen as an informal bid to win the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The BJP's accusations include the AAP government's neglect of development in Delhi's slum clusters, unauthorised colonies, and rural areas.
The BJP held public sensitisation meetings, or Jan Chetna Sabhas, in seven Assembly constituencies to expose corruption allegations against the AAP government. Party leaders juxtaposed the Centre's welfare schemes for the economically backward sections with accusations of Kejriwal's "nawabi mentality" and VIP status.
They accused him of spending Rs. 45 crore on renovating his official residence and neglecting the development of Delhi's rural areas.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva said that the BJP would intensify its fight against corruption and alleged scams by the Kejriwal government. National General Secretary Dushyant Gautam accused Kejriwal of only showing dreams of freebies to the people of Delhi and not implementing the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Ramvir Singh Bidhuri accused Kejriwal of having a "special person" status and questioned why he needed 106 security personnel. Union Minister of State Meenakshi Lekhi accused Kejriwal of harming the poor of Delhi by not implementing various welfare schemes.
Northeast Delhi BJP MP Manoj Tiwari accused Kejriwal of having a "nawabi mentality" and installing expensive carpets, curtains, and toilet seats in his official residence. The BJP announced that its "movement to expose Kejriwal's Rajmahal bungalow scam" would continue.
The AAP government had recently won a Supreme Court verdict that gave it control over Delhi's "services" such as appointments, transfers, and disciplinary action against bureaucrats. The BJP's attack on Kejriwal is seen as an attempt to weaken his position ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.