In a bold and surprising statement, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, during his second ‘Janata Ki Adalat’ at Delhi’s Chhatrasal Stadium, threw down the gauntlet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kejriwal challenged the Prime Minister to provide free electricity in all 22 BJP-ruled states before the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. If PM Modi fulfills this condition, Kejriwal pledged to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state elections.
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📍 जनता की अदालत, छत्रसाल स्टेडियम, दिल्ली@ArvindKejriwal जी की PM मोदी को चुनौती👇
"मोदी जी, फ़रवरी में दिल्ली का चुनाव है। 22 राज्यों में BJP की सरकार है। इन राज्यों में बिजली Free कर दो, मैं दिल्ली चुनाव में मोदी जी का प्रचार करूँगा।"#JantaKiAdalatMeinKejriwal pic.twitter.com/nhBmwH2URL
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 6, 2024
Kejriwal’s public challenge came amid mounting tensions between AAP and the BJP, especially after Kejriwal’s release from Tihar Jail following his controversial arrest in the alleged liquor policy scam. This event marks the second time Kejriwal addressed the public after his release, utilizing the opportunity to attack the BJP’s governance and its “double engine government” approach, which he claims has failed across states.
“I challenge PM Modi to make electricity free in all 22 BJP-ruled states before the Delhi Assembly elections next year. If he does, I will personally campaign for the BJP in Delhi,” said Kejriwal, making a statement that stunned both supporters and critics. This move comes at a critical juncture as AAP gears up for the state assembly elections, with Kejriwal aiming to boost morale among party workers and simultaneously take digs at the BJP’s governance model.
Kejriwal was particularly vocal about what he described as the BJP’s “failing double engine government” in states like Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, where recent assembly elections had produced unfavorable results for the BJP. “Their first engine failed during the Lok Sabha elections in June, and now the second engine is failing state by state,” he said, claiming that voters were beginning to reject the BJP’s governance model which, according to him, has resulted in rising inflation, unemployment, and corruption. Kejriwal asserted that the BJP’s promise of ‘double engine governance’ had been nothing more than a ‘double loot’ strategy that is now unraveling before the nation.
The challenge also highlights Kejriwal’s confidence in AAP’s governance model, particularly in Delhi, where the AAP government has been credited for providing free electricity and water services, as well as improving healthcare and education. He pointedly asked BJP leaders to name any state where the BJP provides such services, insinuating that the Modi-led government has failed to meet the needs of the people.
This latest move by Kejriwal further intensifies the ongoing rivalry between AAP and BJP. The challenge, although audacious, has also raised eyebrows for its potential to shake up the political dynamics ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has yet to respond to Kejriwal’s remarks, but political analysts speculate that Kejriwal’s strategy aims to corner the BJP on a popular public service issue—free electricity—which has resonated well with voters in Delhi.
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📍 जनता की अदालत, छत्रसाल स्टेडियम, दिल्ली
अब डबल इंजन की सरकारें जा रही हैं। इनका एक इंजन तो लोकसभा चुनाव में ही ख़राब हो गया था। अब एक-एक राज्य से दूसरा इंजन भी ख़राब हो रहा है।
देश के लोगों को समझ में आ गया है कि डबल इंजन की सरकार का मतलब महंगाई और भ्रष्टाचार है।
अब जब… pic.twitter.com/lS1KzpNNGz
— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) October 6, 2024
In addition to targeting the BJP, Kejriwal also addressed his own party workers, advising them to refrain from adopting divisive tactics during election campaigns. “Even if we lose an election, we must never resort to dishonesty or divisiveness,” he said. Kejriwal emphasised that AAP’s victory in previous elections had been achieved through integrity, and he urged his workers to maintain this ethos moving forward.
Kejriwal’s comments come at a time when the political landscape in India is heating up, with crucial state elections looming in Delhi, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. His statement not only challenges the BJP’s governance but also serves as a rallying cry to his supporters, positioning AAP as a party committed to public welfare and transparency.
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As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, Kejriwal’s challenge to PM Modi is likely to dominate political discourse, setting the stage for an intense political showdown between AAP and BJP in the months ahead.
