Delhi Assembly polls: AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal kicks off ‘Revdi Pe Charcha’ campaign

At the launch, Kejriwal alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP often accused AAP of offering “muft ki revdi” (freebies). Listing down the six ‘revdis’ — free electricity, water, education, healthcare, bus tickets for women and pilgrimage for elderly — he warned that the BJP will stop all these benefits if they are voted to power.

“In all BJP-ruled states, there is no free electricity, no free water, no free education, no free healthcare. Ask them to make electricity free in Gujarat and UP before Delhi polls…. The PM has said that Kejriwal is giving ‘Muft Ki Revdi’, which must be stopped. Now, the people have to decide if they want these revdis or not,” Kejriwal said, stressing that these benefits were funded by the taxes paid by Delhi residents.

In reference to the issue of inflated water bills, Kejriwal said, “When I went to jail, I don’t know what they did behind my back, people started getting wrong bills of several thousand rupees.. I have announced that no one has to pay these bills. You bring back AAP to power and we will waive off all these wrong bills and you will again start getting free water. But if you vote for the BJP, you will have to pay all these wrong bills.”

Kejriwal highlighted the schemes on free bus rides for women and free pilgrimage trips for senior citizens. “Apart from these six revdis, the seventh one is coming soon,” he said as he promised to soon start depositing Rs 1,000 per month in every woman’s account in Delhi. “So keep this in mind before you press the ‘kamal ka’ button, otherwise press the ‘jhaadu’ button.”

Attacking the BJP, Kejriwal said Delhi was a half-state. “We control the state government, but the Central government, led by the BJP, controls the Lieutenant Governor’s office… We’ve done everything for the people of Delhi… What has the Central government done?” he asked.

Questioning BJP’s promises, he pointed out that the party had failed to fulfill its commitments from the last election, including registering unauthorised colonies. “They lied to the Purvanchal community that they would register their colonies. Not a single registry happened in the last five years,” Kejriwal claimed, adding, “I’m not saying I’ve finished every work… A lot has been done and a lot is yet to be done… give us one more chance and all the pending work will be completed”.

Responding to Kejriwal’s claims, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said “welfare schemes should be accessible to all, yet Kejriwal’s tone suggests he is distributing ‘charity’”. “The benefits of welfare schemes are the right of every Delhiite… If BJP comes to power, we will implement all central government schemes in Delhi and expand the scope of welfare programmes,” he said. He added that in BJP-governed states, all Central government schemes have been implemented effectively, “contributing uniquely to societal progress”.

Delhi, however, remains an exception, he said. “A corrupt government here has prevented the implementation of many central government schemes due to political rivalry,” he alleged.