Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal resumed his ‘padyatra’ (foot march) from west Delhi’s Rajouri Garden on Sunday, marking the commencement of the second phase of his outreach campaign ahead of the February 2025 assembly elections. This phase aims to cover all Delhi assembly constituencies throughout November and December.
Addressing a gathering at Rajouri Garden, Kejriwal emphasised the significance of the upcoming elections, stating, “The election is a choice between safeguarding the significant progress Delhi has made in the past decade and reverting to outdated systems of governance. This election is not just about re-electing the AAP. It’s about saving Delhi.”
He highlighted the transformation in Delhi’s power supply, noting that the city now enjoys 24-hour electricity without power cuts, a stark contrast to the eight to ten-hour outages experienced in the past. Kejriwal also addressed concerns over high water bills, promising immediate relief if re-elected. “Incorrect water bills have come in for some, but once we come back to power, I will waive all these bills within a month,” he asserted.
The AAP’s padyatras were temporarily halted due to festival celebrations but have now resumed with renewed vigor. Senior AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh stated, “Padyatras were halted due to festivals. Today Arvind Kejriwal is going to resume his padyatra from Rajouri Garden, and the foot marches will continue throughout November and December.”
Singh accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to disrupt these foot marches by “attacking” Kejriwal. He alleged, “The BJP has tried to stop Kejriwal from reaching out to people directly by attacking him during his padyatra.” However, there was no immediate response from the BJP to these allegations.
The second phase of the padyatra campaign is designed to facilitate direct engagement between Kejriwal and Delhi’s residents, allowing him to address their concerns and highlight the AAP government’s achievements over the past decade. The Delhi assembly elections are scheduled for early 2025, and the AAP aims to secure a third consecutive term by emphasizing its track record in governance and development.
In a related development, AAP MP Sanjay Singh announced that the second phase of Arvind Kejriwal’s padyatra has started and will continue through December. Singh alleged that the BJP is attempting to hinder Kejriwal’s outreach efforts.
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The padyatra initiative underscores the AAP’s commitment to grassroots engagement and its strategy to mobilize support ahead of the forthcoming elections.
