Ramesh Pahelwan AAP Candidate from Kasturba Nagar Delhi election 2025
Ramesh Pahelwan AAP Candidate from Kasturba Nagar Delhi election 2025

Summary

In an exclusive interview, Pahelwan explains his disillusionment with the BJP’s candidate selection process

NEW DELHI: With 48 hours to go for Delhi elections on on Wednesday, Ramesh Pahelwan , the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from Kasturba Nagar, speaks candidly about his reasons for leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and joining AAP just before the election.

The decision, he says, was prompted by his dissatisfaction with the BJP’s choice to field Neeraj Basoya, a former Congress leader, from the constituency.’

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In an exclusive interview, Pahelwan explains his disillusionment with the BJP’s candidate selection process.

“Neeraj Basoya was in Congress before shifting to BJP. Simiarly, in Jangpura, their candidate was in Congress? So BJP is taking other party’s canddiates. While we worked hard, 24 hours a day, 12 months a year, 365 days. We live and die for the people of Kotla,” Pahelwan remarks.

Delhi assembly elections 2025
Delhi assembly elections 2025

“Whether it’s rain, cold, heat, dengue, or malaria, we do fogging, we clean, we work, and we remain available, yet someone else gets to reap the rewards,” he continues.

Ramesh Pahelwan’s political journey has been marked by shifting allegiances.

After initially joining the AAP in 2013, he switched to BJP in 2017 but returned to AAP ahead of the current election cycle. His decision to leave the BJP, however, was driven by his dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of local issues.

He expressed frustration over the lack of support and resources for constituency work, stating, “When I was with BJP, funds were not being sent by higher authorities. If money was allocated, it was directed toward MLAs, leaving us (Municipal Councillor) with very limited resources. The public is aware of this.”

Pehlwan also criticized BJP’s choice of Basoya, a former Congress leader who had contested elections with the Congress party and suffered a significant loss in 2013, even forfeiting his security deposit. He questioned the BJP’s commitment to local concerns, given Basoya’s history of party-hopping.

While expressing his frustration with his former party, Pehlwan turned his attention to issues that he believes need immediate action. “The sewer work and disruption in water supply are among the few issues that need attention,” he noted. “To speed up these works, Mr. Kejriwal has sent me here to serve the community.”

Pahelwan, however, remains confident in AAP’s track record of fulfilling promises, especially under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. “Earlier, Delhi faced power cuts, but today, electricity is available round the clock. AAP has delivered on its promises,” he asserted, emphasizing the party’s achievements in areas such as water, electricity, and education.

A key part of his pitch to voters is his belief that his hard work and dedication to the community will earn him their support. “They will vote for my hard work, they will vote for my honesty, they will vote for my face. Whether it is Kotla Mubarakpur, Gurdwara Road Bazaar, Subhash Bazaar, or Punjabi Bazaar, there is three times the cleanliness,” he claimed.

Pehlwan also took the opportunity to slam the opposition’s criticisms of AAP, particularly regarding the issue of “freebies.” He pointed out that while other parties accuse AAP of distributing freebies, the AAP government has successfully delivered tangible benefits such as free electricity, free water, and accessible healthcare. “They say we are distributing freebies, but what are they distributing? Gajak or Gajar ka halwa?” he quipped, referring to the central government’s claims.

The opposition’s consistent criticism of AAP’s efforts to clean the Yamuna River also came under fire from Pahelwan. He accused them of sabotaging AAP’s initiatives by sending workers to jail on false charges. “If they put everyone who has won the election behind bars, who will work?” he asked.

On the issue of funding, Pahelwan stressed that while the central government allocates limited amounts for local development, Kejriwal has consistently pushed for a larger budget to address Delhi’s challenges. “They are giving 5 lakh rupees or 10 lakh rupees; however, Kejriwal is asking for a budget of 1 crore rupees,” he said, highlighting the disparity between state and central priorities.

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Turning to one of AAP’s flagship initiatives, the Mohalla Clinics, Pehlwan was unequivocal in his praise. “Everything is fine with Mohalla Clinics. People are benefiting. If you go to the doctor, no matter how small the doctor is, he will charge you 50-100 rupees. All the claims about Mohalla Clinics being ineffective are baseless. Otherwise, why is AAP winning in Delhi three times?” he asked. “Delhi is benefiting, that’s why we are winning. We are winning for the fourth time.”

Pahelwan’s  confidence in AAP’s leadership and his own chances of victory remains high. “I’m here to serve the people of Kasturba Nagar. Under Kejriwal’s leadership, there has been significant progress, especially in areas like water supply, electricity, and education. The AAP government has done more for the common man in Delhi than any other party,” he concluded.

As the election draws closer, Ramesh Pahelwan’s  campaign in Kasturba Nagar is expected to be one of the most closely watched battles in Delhi’s political landscape. Will the voters of Kotla respond to his call for change and support AAP’s vision for the future? Only time will tell