Kapil Mishra, the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the Karawal Nagar seat in the upcoming Delhi elections, said that people are frustrated with the Aam Aadmi Party government’s constant clashes with the lieutenant governor and the central government, and are now looking at the BJP as an alternative.
In an interview with PTI, Mishra stated that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has failed to govern effectively. He also mentioned that AAP does not have a clear chief minister (CM) candidate, as the Supreme Court has imposed restrictions on Arvind Kejriwal.
Mishra criticised the AAP for fielding candidates who are accused in the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, saying this has caused hurt among the people of Delhi. He will face Manoj Tyagi from AAP and PK Mishra from Congress in the February 5 elections in Karawal Nagar, a constituency affected by the 2020 riots. The area has over 3.07 lakh voters.
“The wounds of the 2020 northeast Delhi riots are still fresh, and we won’t forget what happened. Fielding the accused in elections is a deliberate attempt to cause more pain,” Mishra said. He added that his party was not seeking votes based on the riots.
Mishra also mentioned that Tahir Hussain, a former AAP councillor jailed for his alleged role in the riots, is contesting from Mustafabad on an AIMIM ticket, which is hurting the people of Delhi. AIMIM has also fielded Shafa-ur-Rehman, who is also in jail over a riot-related case, from Okhla.
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Mishra accused both AAP and Congress of focusing only on Muslim voters and ignoring the rest of Delhi’s residents.
The 2020 northeast Delhi riots led to the deaths of over 50 people and many injuries. The violence erupted after clashes between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Mishra had given a controversial speech before the riots, which some people believe helped trigger the violence.
Asked about his image in the party, Mishra said he has received "positive feedback" for his support of Hindutva. He added, "Hindutva is not just an election issue for us, it’s our way of life. We’re willing to face any political price for it."
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Mishra, who was once with AAP, believes that BJP will form the next government in Delhi. "People are frustrated with the AAP government, which is always in conflict with the central government or the lieutenant governor. They now see BJP as an alternative," he said.
Mishra also questioned Kejriwal’s governance, asking why Delhi's roads are in poor condition, why the air is polluted, and why the water quality is bad. "Kejriwal has failed to address these issues, and even people in his own constituency are upset with him," he added.
On the BJP's campaign, Mishra said the party’s candidates are enthusiastic and confident, especially after Prime Minister Modi’s speech. "We’re excited as we move into the final phase of the election campaign," he said.
If elected, Mishra said his focus will be on local issues, such as improving drainage, fixing damaged roads, and tackling traffic congestion. He also plans to improve water supply, connectivity, cleanliness, and build parks, sports centers, and marriage halls.
"These basic facilities are missing, and we will work to provide them," he said. Mishra added that this election, the youth will reject AAP’s false promises of "free Wi-Fi, new colleges, and jobs," and will support PM Modi’s vision.
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