Tensions flared outside Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s residence on Friday as an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) team, arriving to question him over bribery allegations against the BJP, was blocked from entry. The dramatic standoff unfolded just a day before the crucial Delhi election results, intensifying the already heated political battle between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The ACB’s move came following Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena’s directive to investigate AAP’s claims of BJP’s alleged “Operation Lotus” – an attempt to poach its candidates.
Bribery Allegations Stir Controversy
AAP MP Sanjay Singh stirred the pot on Thursday by alleging that the BJP had offered Rs 15 crore each to seven AAP candidates to switch sides. While he refrained from naming them, Singh insisted that these candidates had received calls from BJP leaders just a day after the polls.
Kejriwal escalated the accusations further, tweeting that BJP operatives had approached 16 of his party’s candidates, dangling lucrative offers of money and ministerial positions in exchange for their defection.
Lieutenant Governor Orders Investigation
The Lt Governor’s directive to the ACB followed a formal complaint from Delhi BJP Secretary Vishnu Mittal, who accused AAP of spreading baseless allegations without any concrete proof.
Mittal, in his letter to Saxena, stated, “The allegations made by Arvind Kejriwal and Sanjay Singh are serious and require immediate investigation. By spreading such false and misleading information, AAP is attempting to create panic and unrest in the capital.” He urged authorities to summon AAP leaders and conduct a thorough probe.
Principal Secretary to the Lt Governor, Ashish Kundra, confirmed that Saxena had instructed the ACB to examine the claims. The official order noted that the allegations seemed to be politically motivated, aimed at tarnishing the BJP’s image and stirring unrest post-election.
AAP Challenges BJP to Face Probe
In response, Sanjay Singh hit back, dismissing the BJP’s claims as mere theatrics. “The BJP only wants to indulge in drama, while we demand real action into the allegations,” he said. He further declared his intent to visit the ACB office with his lawyer to file a formal complaint.
When asked about BJP’s demand for evidence, Singh snapped, “I revealed everything to the media yesterday, including the phone number that contacted our candidates. What more evidence do they need?”
ACB Kicks Off Investigation
The ACB has formed three teams to investigate the matter. Reports indicate that Singh’s statement is currently being recorded at the agency’s office, while Kejriwal and AAP minister Mukesh Kumar Ahlawat are expected to provide their testimonies from their residences.
Exit Polls Hint at BJP’s Comeback
AAP’s allegations come in the wake of exit poll results that suggest a major political shift in Delhi. If predictions hold true, the BJP could return to power in the capital after 27 years. The average of five exit polls indicates the BJP securing 39 seats, crossing the majority mark of 36, while AAP is projected to win 30 seats.
However, AAP leader Reena Gupta dismissed these projections, citing previous election years—2013, 2015, and 2020—when exit polls had underestimated AAP’s performance.
With Delhi witnessing a voter turnout of 60.55% in a heated three-way contest between AAP, BJP, and Congress, all eyes are now on the final results set to be declared on Saturday. As the political drama unfolds, the capital braces for what could be a turning point in its electoral landscape.
