Arvind Kejriwal, booked in the Delhi Liquor Policy Scam, is out on interim bail and is set to surrender on June 2. Since his return, he has been launching scathing attacks on the opposition leaders and making several poll promises. In one such statement, Kejriwal promised free electricity to the whole nation if won to power.
What is shocking is that Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is contesting the Lok Sabha Elections of 2024, in as many as 20 out of the 543 seats. Out of these 20, AAP is supporting the grand old Congress in Chandigarh and Gujarat, where the seats sum up to three. So, in actuality, AAP is contesting 17 seats out of 543.
In his address to the media on May 12, Kejriwal said, “Out of the 10 guarantees, the first guarantee is that we will provide 24-hour electricity in the country. The country has the capacity to generate 3 lakh MW of electricity but the usage is only 2 lakh MW. Our country can produce electricity more than the demand. We have done it in Delhi and Punjab, we will do it in the country also. We will provide up to 200 units of free electricity to all the poor. It will cost Rs 1.25 lakh crore, we can arrange it…”
Since his release on bail, Kejriwal has relied on numerous ‘guarantees.’ Here are the ten guarantees he has made:
- 24-hour electricity supply with the first 200 units of power free across the country
- Promise of making arrangements for free education for all and making government schools better than private schools.
- Infrastructure and facility build up at government hospitals at par with private hospitals.
- India’s land to be freed from China, Army to be given a free hand.
- Agniveer scheme launched by the Narendra Modi government to be scrapped.
- Farmers to the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.
- Full statehood to be ensured for Delhi.
- Plans to create two crore jobs every year.
- Promise to get rid of the policy of giving safe heavens to corrupt people, free the country from corruption.
- Plans to simplify Goods and Services Tax (GST), eye on surpassing the trade capacity of China.
It is worth noting that the manifesto and entire campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are centred around the concept of promises made and promises kept, which they refer to as ‘Modi ki Guarantee.’ Upon his release from jail, Kejriwal has responded to these BJP assurances by making his own set of guarantees.
While promising these guarantees to the people, Kejriwal said, he has not discussed any of them with their alliance partners in the I.N.D.I. Alliance. He said, “I apologise to all my INDIA bloc alliance partners for not discussing this with them before announcing the guarantees. I don’t have time because the elections are half done. But I am sure they will not object to the opening of schools and hospitals. I will press upon my INDIA bloc partners to fulfil these guarantees.”
The coalition of opposition parties, including the AAP, Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, among others, came together to challenge the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in the Lok Sabha elections. However, several alliance members have encountered difficulties with seat allocation and have chosen to contest independently in their respective states, this list includes the AAP which is contesting solo in Delhi and Punjab.
During the same press briefing, Kejriwal declared his intention to work “36 hours in 24 hours” to ensure the BJP’s defeat. His party colleague and Punjab Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, stated that AAP would be a part of the upcoming central government formed on June 4, adding that the BJP would not exceed 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
Such promises are not new to the AAP and its leadership. In 2012, when the party came into being from one of its kind Anti-Corruption movement, Kejriwal and his supporters made a notable campaign by visiting the homes of Congress leaders and MPs, affixing paper declarations of their alleged corruption. Kejriwal vowed that, if given the opportunity, he would dismiss these ministers and launch investigations against them. His primary target was then Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit.
Kejriwal and his party gained prominence through their relentless criticism of Dikshit. Kejriwal pledged to the people of Delhi that if elected, his first action in office would be to file an FIR (First Information Report) against her. However, despite Dikshit’s passing, up until two years ago, no investigation or case had been initiated against her.
Kejriwal’s journey from proclaiming himself an “Aam Aadmi” living an ordinary life to constructing the opulent Sheeshmahal with crores of rupees is riddled with deceit at every turn. The examples are numerous.
Regarding electoral pledges, during the 2017 Punjab assembly elections, Kejriwal and his party claimed that a BBC survey indicated they were poised to win a staggering 100 seats. However, the reality fell far short of these claims, with AAP securing only 20 seats. Their performance was disappointing, with 25 party candidates failing to even retain their deposit amounts.
Once again, the party’s leader has returned, this time on bail solely to campaign for the elections. The party supporters call this a big win against Modi and Kejriwal’s victory. However, his release comes with conditions imposed by the court, including restrictions on visiting the CM’s office, signing documents, commenting on his involvement in the Liquor scam, and more.
What’s startling is the absence of any mention of action against corruption or corrupt practices in AAP’s extensive list of ‘Guarantees’. Despite emerging from an anti-corruption movement, the party’s election promises notably lack any such commitment. This seems like a significant reversal for AAP, possibly influenced by their alliance with Congress or the various scandals, from the Liquor Policy to Mohalla clinics, Jal Board and the scams in Government schools in which they themselves are embroiled.
