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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Nexus between BJP and discoms, alleges AAP
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Nexus between BJP and discoms, alleges AAP

Party denies allegations; Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay says he will sue Arvind Kejriwal

AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal (centre) and Yogendra Yadav address a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: PTIPremium
AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal (centre) and Yogendra Yadav address a press conference in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photo: PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday stepped up its campaign against rival the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the run-up to the Delhi assembly election, alleging a “nexus" between its state party president Satish Upadhyay and vice-president Ashish Sood, and some power distribution companies.

In making the allegations, the party took a leaf out of the BJP campaign in last year’s general election and the 2013 Delhi assembly elections, where it had made the issue of corruption its main poll plank.

With the 7 February Delhi polls turning increasingly into a direct face-off between the BJP and the AAP, the attack on the former’s state leadership could have a political impact.

Launching a direct attack, AAP convener and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said, “Our investigation has shown that Delhi unit president Satish Upadhyay and vice-president Ashish Sood have connections with companies that supply meters and other equipment to BSES."

BSES is one of two companies that supply electricity in the national capital.

The issue of electricity is one that the party raised successfully in the previous Delhi assembly elections in 2013. The party had at the time targeted then Congress government led by Sheila Dikshit for increased electricity prices, saying it was due to close links between power supply companies and the government.

Kejriwal said Upadhyay owns six companies. According to the AAP, one of the companies where Sood is the director, installs and replaces electricity meters for BSES.

“BJP had promised the people of Delhi that they would reduce electricity prices by 30% but instead of reducing prices in seven months, they have increased them twice. In Delhi, there have been repeated complaints about meters running too fast, as well as inflated bills because of the same. It is incredible that these meters have been installed by a company owned by the Delhi BJP president," said Kejriwal.

AAP’s contention is that the party leadership’s appointment of Upadhyay and Sood as office bearers in the Delhi unit, despite knowledge of their links with power distribution companies (discoms), reveals a “serious conflict of interest" in the BJP.

Senior AAP members said the party has in its possession documentary evidence of its claims.

The AAP also said that the audit of discoms by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India that it had ordered in January 2014 had been put into “cold storage" after the BJP assumed power at the Centre. The discoms that were audited included BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd and Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd.

“During this period, after the formation of a BJP government at the Centre, these power companies have refused to submit their accounts for a CAG audit. The CAG has repeatedly appealed to the central government asking them to pressurise these power companies to submit. However, the BJP government seems to have put the entire CAG audit into cold storage," said Kejriwal.

After leading his party to a spectacular show at the Delhi assembly election in 2013, Kejriwal resigned as chief minister on 14 February last year, in protest of the Congress party and the BJP blocking his attempt to introduce the anti-corruption Jan Lokpal Bill in the Delhi assembly.

Meanwhile, the BJP denied the allegations, and Upadhyay said he would sue the AAP convener.

“Elections are almost here and Kejriwal has made similar allegations against other party members as well. The Constitution does not stop someone from doing business," said Upadhyay.

BSES declined to comment on the issue.

Political analysts said charges would not affect the voters.

“As far as the voters are concerned this will have no effect to them. This is nothing new. Parties gain importance through this. One shouldn’t be surprised if the BJP counter attacks tomorrow," said Bidyut Chakrabarty, New Delhi-based political analyst.

With the declaration of election dates on Tuesday, the model code of conduct (MCC) also came into force with immediate effect. Seventy constituencies in Delhi will go to the polls on 7 February and results will be declared on 10 February.

The Delhi assembly had been in suspended animation since February last year.

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Published: 14 Jan 2015, 11:55 PM IST
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