On Monday, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) unveiled 15 key guarantees for Delhi as part of its election campaign. Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal took the opportunity to apologize for not fulfilling certain promises made during the 2020 elections, including cleaning the Yamuna, transforming Delhi’s roads to European standards, and improving water supply.
Kejriwal admitted, “I accept that we couldn’t fulfill these promises in the past five years. For two and a half years, we were battling COVID-19, and after that, the central government played their ‘jail-jail’ game. My entire team was scattered. But now, we are all out of jail, and my dream of completing these three tasks for Delhi will be realized in the next five years. We have both the funds and the plan to make it happen.”
Free Services Will Continue
Kejriwal assured the people of Delhi that free electricity, water, education, healthcare, pilgrimage trips for senior citizens, and free bus travel for women will continue. He claimed that BJP leaders have openly stated they would shut down these free schemes if they came to power in Delhi.
Warning voters, he said, “If you press the lotus button (BJP’s symbol), your monthly expenses will increase by ₹25,000. This saving is only possible because of our government. I don’t think common people can bear such a financial burden. Many will have to leave Delhi altogether. If you vote for the lotus, there will be chaos everywhere.”
Kejriwal’s Apology and the Yamuna Issue
Cleaning the Yamuna River has been a major political and environmental issue in Delhi. Kejriwal had promised in 2020 to clean the river, but five years later, the condition of the Yamuna remains a concern. The river, often covered with froth and pollution, has become a recurring topic of political criticism, especially during the Chhath festival.
On January 25, BJP leader Parvesh Verma mocked Kejriwal by submerging a cutout of him in the Yamuna. The cutout depicted Kejriwal holding his ears with a caption that read, “I failed, forgive me.” This stunt was part of the BJP’s ongoing criticism of AAP’s inability to address the Yamuna’s pollution.
Similarly, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited the capital on January 14 and shared a video highlighting the city’s dirty streets, sarcastically calling it “Kejriwal’s shining Paris-like Delhi.” His remarks reignited the debate over the state government’s unfulfilled promises.
Key Election Details
Delhi’s 70-seat assembly elections are scheduled for February 5, with results to be declared on February 8. A total of 699 candidates are contesting this time, with January 20 being the last date for withdrawal of nominations.
According to the Election Commission, 1,522 candidates initially filed nominations for the elections. On the New Delhi constituency, Kejriwal himself faces 22 opponents, making it one of the most closely watched battles in this election.
The Road Ahead
As the election date nears, the political battle in Delhi has intensified. Kejriwal’s AAP is banking on its free services and promises of development to secure another term, while opposition parties like the BJP and Congress are highlighting unfulfilled commitments and governance gaps.
With the Yamuna’s pollution and infrastructure issues dominating public discourse, the AAP government is under pressure to prove its vision for Delhi’s future. Whether Kejriwal’s 15 guarantees and apology can sway voters remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: this election will be pivotal in shaping the narrative for Delhi’s governance in the coming years.
