Campaign for high-stakes Delhi polls ends, voting tomorrow

In the run-up to the polls, all three parties announced a slew of poll sops.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal takes part in a roadshow in Kalkaji. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

Amid criticism over basing its governance model on freebies, the AAP doubled down and announced an increase from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,100 per month in its promised Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Raashi scheme, free treatment for all above the age of 60 years in empanelled private hospitals, and a monthly honorarium of Rs 18,000 to pujaris and granthis.

The BJP announced monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,500 for women beneficiaries, 50,000 government jobs, and 20 lakh employment and self-employment opportunities, among others. The BJP also made it a point to underline that all existing schemes of the AAP government would continue – an attempt to counter the AAP’s claim that the BJP, if voted to power, would stop its schemes like free electricity, free water, free medicines and free education.

The Congress, on its part, promised free electricity up to 300 units for all households, Rs 2,500 monthly allowance for women, cooking gas cylinder at Rs 500, health coverage of up to Rs 25 lakh per family, and a one-year apprenticeship with a monthly stipend of Rs 8,500 for the youth.

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah at a rally in Jangpura on Monday. (Express photo by Abhinav Saha)

In the last lap of campaigning on Monday, Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated the BJP’s allegations of corruption against the AAP. Referring to the Delhi excise policy case, he said: “Bade miyan and chhote miyan, Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, drowned the youth in liquor. They did scams worth crores. There is only one education minister in the country who went to jail for a liquor scam. They said they would give clean water, pucca houses to jhuggi dwellers. But all they did was make sheesh mahal and indulge in corruption.”

He said the AAP had not fulfilled any of its promises. “Aren’t you ashamed, Kejriwal? You said you would not take cars, bungalows,” he said.

Shah also talked about the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by the BJP government in Uttarakhand. “In Uttarakhand, we have brought the UCC. Now, nobody can keep four wives there. We do what we say,” he said.

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal takes part in a roadshow in Kalkaji. (Express photo by Tashi Tobgyal)

AAP chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal also held public events on Monday, including a jan sabha in Chhattarpur and a roadshow in Kalkaji, which is Chief Minister Atishi’s constituency.

Addressing his final rally before the elections, Kejriwal said that according to his estimates, the AAP was ahead in 55 seats but the tally would increase to 60 if women went out to vote. “Explain to the men in your house that there is nothing special about the BJP. The BJP is a rich man’s party,” he said in his appeal to women voters.

In the run-up to the polls, all three parties announced a slew of poll sops.

He claimed that the BJP had “openly declared” that it would stop the AAP government’s schemes if it comes to power. “They will stop free electricity, free water, free bus rides for women, shut government schools and mohalla clinics if they come to power,” he said at his roadshow in Kalkaji. “I have estimated that this will increase your household costs by Rs 20,000-25,000. Can you bear that? You will be forced to leave Delhi. No one has an extra Rs 25,000 lying around,” he said.

“If we form the government, every woman will get Rs 2,100. If there are two women in the house, you will get Rs 4,200. Add all this up, and the Delhi government is giving you Rs 30,000 every month,” he said.

The Congress continued to target both the BJP and AAP, as senior party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra held roadshows in key constituencies.