Delhi Elections: 'BJP-Backed Candidates Delayed Kejriwal's Nomination Filing', Alleges AAP

Kejriwal reached the office of the Returning Officer (RO) at the Jamnagar House, with his family, including parents, and party leaders Pankaj Gupta and Gopal Mohan.

AAP chief is waiting in queue with token number 45 to file his nomination from the prestigious New Delhi seat. (Image: ANI)

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal is yet to file his nomination papers with today being the last day to complete the process which is mandatory to contest the much crucial Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled to take place on February 8. In case, Delhi CM fails to file his nomination papers today, he would not stand qualified to contest the Assembly polls. According to reports, the AAP chief is waiting in queue with token number 45 to file his nomination from the prestigious New Delhi seat. Kejriwal spent nearly  hours at the office of the Returning Officer (RO) and is still waiting to file his nomination papers. As the deadline for closing nominations inched closer, Kejriwal took to Twitter to inform that his token number is 45. "Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers. Am so glad so many people participating in democracy."

Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers. Am so glad so many people participating in democracy.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020

However, speaking to news agency ANI, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said informed that around 35 candidates are sitting at RO office without proper nomination papers, even without names of 10 proposers. "They are insisting unless their papers are complete and file nomination, they won't allow CM Kejriwal to file nomination," Bhardwaj said alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is behind these people. Delhi CM missed the 3 pm deadline to file his papers on Monday after the roadshow that he undertook on his way to the returning offcer took and extended route and reached late.

Doesn’t matter. Many of them r filing for the first time. They r bound to make mistakes. We also made mistakes the first time. We shud hand hold them. I am enjoying waiting wid them. They r all part of my family. https://t.co/9s8hRDnjSU

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020

Though the deadline for filing nominations was 3 p.m., all those who have been given token will be allowed to submit their papers. AAP government's media advisor Nagendar Sharma termed it "below the belt tactics" of BJP. Kejriwal reached the office of the Returning Officer at the Jamnagar House with his family, including parents and party leaders Pankaj Gupta and Gopal Mohan. There was a huge crowd of candidates at the SDM office since morning as Tuesday was the last date for filing nomination. The supporters of other candidates accused the police of giving "VIP treatment" to the Chief Minister. Kejriwal faced protest from the candidates and their supporters contesting against him at the office. Kejriwal is fighting polls from the New Delhi Assembly seat. He was scheduled to file his nomination on Monday, but the process got delayed because of a mega-rally he held to show the strength of his party ahead of the crucial polls. Kejriwal could not reach the office of the RO on time because of the huge crowd gathered to attend his rally. His electoral rival from BJP, Sunil Yadav who was given a ticket at 2am last night, is also scheduled to file his nomination on the same day. Talking to ABP News, Yadav said he doesn’t consider Kejriwal as a formidable candidate as the party faced major rout under his leadership in the Lok Sabha polls and he also faced a debacle in the local body polls. Yadav said he got the ticket at 2 am last night and is all set to file his nomination today (Tuesday).