‘AAP Workers Seen Distributing Rs 500 Inside Calendars’: BJP's Parvesh Verma Seeks ECI Action

Delhi Election 2025: BJP's Parvesh Varma claims AAP workers distributed cash in slums hiding it in calendars after the AAP alleged police detained their workers under BJP pressure.

File Photo of BJP's New Delhi Assembly constituency candidate, Parvesh Verma

Source : PTI

In the lead-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, the political tussle between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has escalated, with both parties accusing each other of poll-related misconduct.

BJP's New Delhi Assembly constituency candidate, Parvesh Verma, claimed that AAP workers were caught distributing money during campaigning in the Feroze Gandhi Camp area behind Le Meridien Hotel. Speaking to news agency PTI, Verma said, "AAP workers were seen distributing Rs 500 inside calendars at slums at Feroze Gandhi Camp behind Le Meridien Hotel. They were caught by the police and three of them were arrested. We have complained about this to the ECI and Delhi Police, asking where this money came from."

VIDEO | Delhi Elections 2025: BJP's New Delhi Assembly constituency candidate Parvesh Verma (@p_sahibsingh) says, "AAP workers were seen distributing Rs 500 inside calendars at slums at Feroze Gandhi Camp behind Le Meridien Hotel. They were caught by the police and three of them… pic.twitter.com/Y0ors27UU2

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 26, 2025

"Arvind Kejriwal should answer where these crores of rupees are coming from. We hope that the election process will not be mocked this way and that the ECI will take strict action against this," he remarked.

He also accused Arvind Kejriwal of misleading voters through hoax calls claiming their votes had been cancelled by the BJP. Addressing a press conference, he played an alleged audio recording of such a call, in which a caller was heard saying, "Your vote has been cut by the BJP. AAP will ensure you get your vote back," while urging the recipient to support the AAP.

Verma alleged that these calls were part of a larger strategy to create panic among voters. "Hoax calls are being made to the public, saying that BJP will end all AAP schemes. This is a blatant lie," he said. Raising concerns over voter data access, he questioned, "Other than the Election Commission of India, this data is not provided to anyone. How did Kejriwal get the voters' contact list? This must be inspected."

VIDEO | Delhi Elections 2025: BJP leader and New Delhi constituency candidate Parvesh Verma (@p_sahibsingh) says, "Kejriwal is panicking as AAP MLAs are losing. Hoax calls are happening, and Kejriwal claims to have provided clean water to everyone. I say, those with 24-hour clean… pic.twitter.com/boRORX1JZi

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 26, 2025

Meanwhile, AAP dismissed the BJP's claims, terming them baseless. The party alleged that the BJP was resorting to attacks on Kejriwal as it lacked a vision for the upcoming elections. In a statement, AAP said, "Their only focus seems to be waking up every morning to hurl abuses at Arvind Kejriwal. Will Delhi move forward by abusing Arvind Kejriwal? It is Arvind Kejriwal who has given the people of Delhi free 24x7 electricity, quality education, and Mohalla Clinics. The BJP levels baseless allegations against the AAP and then runs away. All the agencies are under BJP, but no investigation is conducted against various crimes committed by BJP leaders."

Verma also accused Kejriwal of failing to utilise MLA funds effectively, alleging that out of the Rs 30 crore allocated to him over five years, only Rs 6 crore had been spent while Rs 24 crore lapsed.

Delhi Election 2025: Delhi Police Detain AAP Workers, Party Alleges BJP Pressure

This comes after AAP accused the police of acting under BJP pressure. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha alleged that the Delhi Police detained AAP workers while they were campaigning in the New Delhi constituency on Saturday night. Speaking at a press conference, Chadha said, "Our workers did not violate any rule. So, the police had to release them all, but only after being pressured. The way people were trying to misuse the government machinery shows that AAP is rapidly gaining ground in the Delhi elections."

Chadha, accompanied by fellow Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak and other AAP leaders, arrived at the Parliament Street police station after receiving information about the detentions. AAP leaders claimed that when they sought an explanation from the police for the detention, no response was provided. Chadha added, "It is clear that an atmosphere of fear is being created and an attempt is being made to demoralise the workers of the Aam Aadmi Party, but we shall not let this happen."

The AAP workers were reportedly participating in a door-to-door campaign when the police intervened. After AAP leaders explained relevant laws and provisions, the workers were eventually released. The dispute highlights the intensifying political rivalry between the BJP and AAP as the Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February 5, draw closer, with results set to be declared on February 8.