BackBJP’s fighting elections on the basis of lies, while we’re contesting on truth: AAP’s Singh
In the backdrop of the high-voltage campaigning for the assembly elections on Saturday, Sanjay Singh, AAP’s Rajya Sabha member and election in-charge spoke about the key issues and his party’s strategy
PremiumThe Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is seeking a second term in Delhi, armed with its performance in the last five years, and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal as the clear CM candidate. In the backdrop of the high-voltage campaigning for the assembly elections on Saturday, Sanjay Singh, AAP’s Rajya Sabha member and election in-charge spoke about the key issues and his party’s strategy. Edited excerpts from an interview:
This election comes after the AAP came to power with a brute majority in 2015. What according to you are the key issues in this election?
The Aam Aadmi Party is contesting the Delhi election on the basis of its work. We have made 200 units of electricity free, 20,000 litres of water is free, 400 units of electricity is given at half the price, free bus ride for women, health costs are now free. This election in Delhi will be fought on work and the changes that have happened in people’s lives. Governments so far were contesting elections on issues like religion and caste, but this time in Delhi, it will be different. AAP will break the record of 2015 in 2020 and the people of Delhi will break their own record.
What is the party doing differently this election? What is the party’s strategy this time?
Last election, we had a report card of 49 days. This time, we have a report card of five years. We held a round of public meetings to speak to people about the government’s work and they gave us a positive response. We then issued a guarantee card to assure people that these schemes will continue. This is a major initiative that we took where we gave a report card and also saying what we will do in the next five years. Our focus is on a positive campaign. The BJP, fearing that they will lose, is making non-issues into issues. They don’t have a road map, leader for Delhi. Their manifesto has nothing. They have lied in the past about ₹15 lakh, creating 2 crore jobs, developing the country... The BJP has created an economic crisis in the country. All their governments in the states and the Centre have failed.
Who do you see as your main challenger?
I think the BJP is also very far and the Congress is not even in the fight.
Do you see the fact that the BJP does not have a CM face as an advantage?
It is a disadvantage for them. They cannot clearly say who is the face against Arvind Kejriwal.
Over the last few days, the campaign agenda has got a religious undertone. How do you see it?
This will not affect the people. The people of Delhi are angry over the law and order situation. Whatever happened in Jamia, Delhi is the capital and people are walking around with guns. Since Amit Shah has become the home minister, there has been a rise in law and order incidents. People feel that Shah is creating a nuisance in the state, their ministers are making instigative statements. People will keep this in mind.
Opposition parties have been targeting the government over non-performance. How do you see this?
There has been a reality check of this. They (Opposition parties) put up a video of a school; that school has been moved to a new building and they are putting videos of the old building. BJP is contesting this election on the basis of lies and we are contesting on truth.
The campaign trail has seen senior leaders of the BJP and Congress step in to campaign. How does that impact the AAP?
The amount of effort BJP will put, AAP will benefit. Their leaders use language which is only used by criminals. Calling Kejriwal a terrorist shows how scared the BJP is to lose in this election. The person who is holding pilgrimage schemes for old people, making schools for children, holds fasts against corruption —how can he be called a terrorist? Last election, they did similar things and leaders made similar statements. The 2 crore residents of Delhi on 8 February will show if Kejriwal is a terrorist or their son.
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