New Delhi: While the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is making its achievements in health and education sectors in Delhi its USP in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is coping with a campaign about alleged liquor scams and governance failures. Is. in the national capital.
As the AAP makes a concerted effort to emerge as the BJP’s major rival in both the states, the latter’s Delhi unit becomes a nodal center for party units in Gujarat and Himachal to source material highlighting the alleged failures of the Kejriwal government. Has been.
For example, the Delhi BJP has produced a video supporting its claim that the AAP government in the capital has not fulfilled its promises. The clip is being circulated by the Gujarat unit of BJP.
According to Delhi BJP President Adesh Gupta, these videos show residents who are “coming forward and shedding light on how this government made big promises but only indulged in scams”.
“Whether it is higher education, where he had promised to give loans to students, so far only two students have been approved and the rest of the money has been spent on advertising and exposing himself,” he told ThePrint.
Gupta said these clips and other literature are posted on social media “to show people the real face of AAP”.
The BJP’s main focus ahead of the elections is on the alleged liquor scam to blunt the AAP’s anti-corruption issue, which the Kejriwal-led party is exposing for municipal elections in Gujarat as well as in Delhi.
Speaking to ThePrint on condition of anonymity, a BJP election strategist said the move would ensure that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal “remains on his toes” and able to focus on a state Won’t happen.
Although there is an AAP government in Delhi, the BJP has been in power at the municipal level. The upcoming election is the first to be held after the amalgamation of the three municipal corporations.
BJP sources said that with the exercise of delimitation of municipal bodies almost complete, the party expects elections to be held in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh as well as elections to the Delhi Municipal Corporation. That is why it is now becoming more aggressive in dealing with the AAP government in Delhi.
“AAP is busy claiming that they will easily win municipal elections, so defeat in Delhi will hurt their perception as they have been in power here. It is being cordoned off at all three places simultaneously: Delhi, Gujarat and Himachal will work in our favor,” the BJP’s election strategist had said earlier.
Elections to the 182-member Gujarat assembly are likely to be held later this year. The BJP, which has been in power in Gujarat since 1995, is trying to improve upon the double-digit numbers it recorded in the 2017 elections. The Congress put up a tough fight, winning 77 seats and narrowing down the BJP to 99.
In the 2017 Himachal Assembly elections, the BJP won 44 of the state’s 68 seats, while the Congress won 21. The Center is keeping a close watch on both the states and ensuring better coordination so that they can share literature and experience in targeting the AAP, sources said.
Read also: As AAP threat looms, Gujarat BJP plans to use potential rebels’ ‘allies’ to help quell rebellion
Weapon to liquor scam
new excise policy of aap government Came into effect In Delhi from 1 October 2021. Under this, the government canceled all existing licenses and then divided Delhi into 32 zones. After this, tenders were floated for the ownership of clusters of 27 liquor shops in each zone.
The primary objective of the policy was to increase the excise duty of the national capital. However, it was withdrawn by the AAP government in July after Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into alleged irregularities in its execution.
BJP has Guilty The AAP government exempted liquor companies, causing a loss of Rs 144.36 crore to the exchequer, and issued a refund of Rs 30 crore of earnest money to a company that had got a zonal license without the prior approval of the LG or the competent authority.
Delhi BJP chief Gupta said, “Liquor scam will be one of the major issues which we will highlight as the party which came to power on anti-corruption agenda is actually involved in corruption.”
He said that he is fully prepared for the Municipal Corporation elections, whenever the elections will be held.
Senior BJP ministers include Anurag Thakur And Meenakshi Lekhi You have also been targeting the government over the liquor scam. The central leadership of the BJP has held several press conferences at the party headquarters. in the subject Excise Policy.
“The delimitation exercise is almost complete and the party is gearing up for municipal elections in Delhi. There is also a lot of synergy with Gujarat and Himachal, especially in exposing Delhi’s liquor scam and failed promises made to Delhiites,” said another senior BJP leader on condition of anonymity.
Read also: Liquor ‘scam’: Delhi BJP protests outside AAP leaders’ homes demanding Sisodia’s removal
Kejriwal’s Gujarat tour
Kejriwal was in Gujarat on Monday as part of a two-day tour ahead of the state assembly elections.
Speaking to ThePrint, Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yamal Vyas said it was a “flop show” and the AAP has “exposed” itself and people will not believe their lies.
“He first spread the rumor that his office was raided to garner sympathy but it turned out to be a lie. He later asked the police to provide security and then misbehaved with him. If they have not been able to fulfill the promises made in a small state like Delhi, they have no chance in Gujarat.
Vyas further said that the people of Gujarat are “very smart and understand all this”.
“We are sharing Delhi content on our social media sites and also going out and informing voters not to fall for AAP,” he said.
(Edited by Therese Sudeep)