The upcoming Delhi elections have seen a fresh round of accusations, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging that Arvind Kejriwal, the convenor of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has been involved in orchestrating hoax calls aimed at misleading voters across various constituencies.
BJP leader Parvesh Verma, who is contesting against Kejriwal from New Delhi, claimed that these calls were aimed at creating confusion among voters, with callers telling them that their votes were being “cancelled” by the BJP.
The calls allegedly went on to assure voters that the AAP would help restore their vote if they supported the party.
Verma shared an audio clip during a press interaction, in which a voice could be heard saying, "Your vote has been cut by the BJP. AAP will ensure you get your vote back," asking the recipient to back the AAP in the elections.
According to Verma, such hoax calls are being made to falsely suggest that the BJP is intending to end AAP’s schemes for the people. The BJP leader termed this as a “blatant lie” and accused Kejriwal’s party of trying to deceive the voters with false claims.
The issue of voter data also came up during Verma’s allegations. He raised concerns over how the AAP had gained access to confidential voter data, which, according to him, is typically not provided to any party other than the Election Commission of India.
Verma called for an investigation into how AAP had secured this sensitive information and questioned its legitimacy. The BJP leader insisted that this breach of privacy needed to be examined closely, especially in light of the fact that such information is not publicly available.
Additionally, Parvesh Verma accused the AAP of distributing ₹500 notes wrapped in a calendar to voters in slum areas to garner support. Verma claimed that this was an attempt by AAP to sway voters through financial inducements.
He went on to say that three people had been arrested in connection with the alleged distribution of money. These accusations were further substantiated by Verma’s filing of a formal complaint with the Election Commission, urging an investigation into what he called "illegal practices" being used to influence voters.
At the time of these allegations, there was no official response from AAP or the Delhi Police. The AAP has yet to comment on the accusations, which have added fuel to the already heated election battle in Delhi.
Verma's complaint to the Election Commission adds to the growing tension surrounding the elections, and the BJP has called for a thorough investigation into the claims.
The New Delhi constituency is witnessing a three-cornered contest between Arvind Kejriwal of AAP, Parvesh Verma of BJP, and Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit. Dikshit, who is the son of the late Sheila Dikshit, a three-time Delhi Chief Minister, is looking to revive Congress’ fortunes in the capital.
The Congress party, which held power in Delhi for 15 consecutive years, has seen a major decline in its influence, failing to win any seat in the last two assembly elections.
On the other hand, AAP has shown dominance in the Delhi Assembly elections, winning a large majority of seats in 2015 and 2020. In both of these elections, AAP secured 67 and 62 seats out of 70, while the BJP managed only a handful of seats, with three in 2015 and eight in 2020.
The BJP is hoping to regain ground in the national capital, with high-stakes campaigns and accusations flying thick and fast in the lead-up to the elections.
Follow us
