Kejriwal’s ‘greed for money’ behind AAP’s Delhi poll setback: Anna Hazare
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New Delhi: Veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Saturday attributed the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) declining fortunes in the Delhi Assembly elections to its “ill-intentions” and alleged missteps, particularly its controversial liquor policy.
Speaking on the early trends, Hazare claimed that AAP national convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had become "infamous" due to the liquor policy case, which he linked to Kejriwal’s "greed for money."
With vote counting underway for two hours, early trends indicate a historic comeback for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has surged ahead of AAP. In the previous election, AAP had reduced BJP to single digits, but now finds itself facing a major setback.
During AAP’s tenure, the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy became a flashpoint, with the BJP accusing the Kejriwal government of "turning Delhi into a city of drunkards." The controversy intensified after the policy introduced ‘Buy 1 Get 1 Free’ offers on liquor bottles, drawing sharp criticism.
Commenting on the election results, Hazare told reporters, “Because of the liquor policy and their greed for wealth and money, Kejriwal became infamous. The people saw through it—on one hand, he spoke of morality, and on the other, he promoted liquor. This is why he got fewer votes in the elections.”
On allegations against Kejriwal and senior AAP leaders, Hazare stated, “In politics, accusations and counter-accusations are common. However, when faced with allegations, one must prove them false before the public. Truth remains truth, and a lie is always a lie. It is important to walk the path of truth in such matters.”
He further remarked, “Kejriwal became selfish without realizing it. He chose the wrong path, and now he is on a downfall.”
According to early trends from the Election Commission of India (ECI), the BJP is leading with 46 seats, while AAP is ahead in 24. The New Delhi Assembly seat, a high-profile three-way contest between Arvind Kejriwal (AAP), Parvesh Verma (BJP), and Sandeep Dikshit (Congress), remains tense, with Verma currently leading while Kejriwal trails in what is being described as a see-saw battle.
Key AAP leaders, including Atishi (Kalkaji) and Saurabh Bhardwaj (Greater Kailash), are also trailing behind BJP’s Ramesh Bidhuri and Shikha Rai, respectively.
As vote counting progresses, the final outcome of the Delhi Assembly elections is awaited, with significant implications for the political landscape of the national capital.
With IANS inputs