New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the Delhi Police and the Election Commission of India (ECI) of siding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and targeting whistleblowers who report violations of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
AAP leaders alleged that BJP workers openly engaged in MCC violations in multiple constituencies, yet law enforcement took no action against them. Instead, two individuals filming these incidents in Kalkaji were allegedly assaulted by the police, while an FIR was filed against Delhi Chief Minister Atishi after she lodged a complaint.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, senior AAP leaders Manish Sisodia, CM Atishi, and Durgesh Pathak criticized the role of authorities in the ongoing electoral process.
AAP Alleges Police and ECI Inaction Against MCC Violations
AAP claims that BJP workers violated the MCC in Kalkaji, Jangpura, and Rajinder Nagar constituencies on Monday night. Instead of intervening, the police allegedly attacked two individuals who were recording the incidents and later detained them for several hours. The party also accused the ECI of ignoring complaints while acting against those raising concerns.
Reacting to the situation, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal took to social media, alleging that the police and the ECI were actively facilitating electoral misconduct. “A case was filed against the Delhi CM for complaining about hooliganism. It seems the role of these institutions is now to protect BJP’s misconduct, while those who report violations face police action,” he wrote.
AAP Questions ECI’s Role in Election Conduct
Manish Sisodia, a senior AAP leader, stated that the Election Commission’s credibility was at stake. “The Election Commission once stood for free and fair elections. Today, under Rajiv Kumar’s leadership, it appears to be working in tandem with the BJP and the Delhi Police,” he said. Sisodia also alleged that BJP workers were distributing cash and gifts to influence voters, but the ECI dismissed complaints citing a lack of evidence, despite multiple videos circulating on social media.
He further claimed that AAP women activists were threatened with acid attacks in Jangpura and that voter ID cards of slum dwellers were allegedly being confiscated to prevent them from voting. “We have reports of BJP workers warning slum residents not to vote for AAP. In some areas, they have forcibly taken voter IDs, yet no action has been taken,” he added.
AAP Claims Police Ignored Complaints Against BJP Leaders
CM Atishi accused BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri’s associates of intimidating voters in slum areas after the campaign silence period began. She claimed that despite photographic and GPS-tagged evidence, no action was taken against them.
Atishi alleged that when she alerted the police, they initially detained a BJP-linked individual but later released him without any action. Instead, she claimed, two local youths recording the scene were brutally beaten and held at the police station overnight.
“The officers present, including ACPs from South East Delhi, Sarita Vihar, and Kalkaji, did not act against the violators. Instead, they detained the whistleblowers,” she said. Atishi also questioned why an FIR was filed against her after she raised concerns with the ECI.
AAP Alleges Vote Suppression Tactics
Durgesh Pathak accused BJP of planning to manipulate voter turnout on polling day. He alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had prepared a list of polling booths where police would be deployed to deter voters.
“February 5 will be a crucial day for Indian democracy. The BJP, along with the Election Commission and the police, is working to suppress voter turnout. We want the nation to be aware of this. If such practices continue, democracy itself will be at risk,” Pathak said.
AAP leaders urged the Election Commission to ensure free and fair elections, claiming that voter suppression efforts were underway. The party has called on the public and media to closely monitor polling day developments.