Delhi Poll Official Responds To Kejriwal’s ‘Hooliganism’ Complaint As AAP, BJP Trade Charges Before Polls
Delhi Election 2025: The Delhi CEO responded to AAP's claims of intimidation, stating no written complaints could be found. The response comes after Kejriwal accused the BJP of orchestrating “hooliganism”.
Delhi Election 2025: Days ahead of the crucial Delhi Assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Delhi on Sunday responded to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal’s complaint regarding alleged intimidation and harassment of AAP volunteers in the New Delhi constituency. The CEO’s office stated that no written complaints supporting these allegations could be found in most cases but assured that any such matters reported formally would be investigated as per the Election Commission of India (ECI) norms.
In a letter addressed to Kejriwal, the CEO’s office confirmed that the matter had been referred to the District Election Officer (DEO) of New Delhi, who submitted a factual report based on inputs from the police, including the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) South District and Additional DCP-I of New Delhi District.
Reply to the issues raised by Sh Arvind Kejriwal, National Convener, Aam Aadmi Party @aamaadmiparty@arvindkejriwal pic.twitter.com/PZ4tO18qQF
— CEO, Delhi Office (@CeodelhiOffice) February 2, 2025
According to the report, the DEO stated that while allegations were made against BJP workers for intimidating AAP volunteers, "no written complaints could be traced in most of the cases." However, the report clarified that "wherever written complaints are received from any political party citing such allegations, all such matters are investigated invariably in accordance with laws & ECI norms and appropriate action as per ECI norms is either initiated or recommended in all such cases." The CEO’s office further stated that the police had reported that "necessary action was taken as per law in all the cases."
The CEO’s office highlighted the measures being taken to ensure free and fair elections, stating that complaints registered on the ECI’s C-VIGIL portal were being actively addressed. "In order to ensure inducement-free and fair elections, complaints on C-VIGIL portal of ECI are being attended, inquired, and disposed of continuously," the CEO’s statement read. Since 7 January 2025, action had been taken in 115 complaints within 100 minutes in the New Delhi constituency, with a broader total of 6,028 complaints across all 70 assembly constituencies.
Additionally, significant enforcement actions have been taken, including the seizure of ₹36 lakh in cash, 144 litres of liquor, drugs worth ₹8.9 crore, and precious metals worth ₹1.22 crore in the New Delhi constituency alone. Across Delhi, authorities have seized ₹38.72 crore in cash, 1.32 lakh litres of liquor, drugs worth ₹88.40 crore, and other items valued at ₹5.53 crore since early January.
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On Kejriwal’s demand for special election observers, the CEO’s office clarified that "General Observers, Expenditure Observers, and Police Observers have already been deployed for all constituencies, including New Delhi Constituency." The letter further stated, "All political parties are free to do campaigning and in case, any complaint of threatening or intimidating by any worker of a political party is received, necessary action will be taken as per law."
Regarding Kejriwal’s concerns about police actions, the CEO’s office asserted, "If a complaint is received against any employee involved in the election process, including police/officials of law enforcement agencies, action will be taken as per law and conduct rules."
It also noted that "critical and vulnerable polling stations have already been identified by DEOs in coordination with concerned DCPs in their respective jurisdictions as per the extant guidelines of ECI in order to ensure smooth conduct of elections and commensurate/necessary arrangements are being put in place."
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The response comes after Kejriwal, in a press conference, accused the BJP of orchestrating “hooliganism” in Delhi, particularly in the New Delhi constituency where he is contesting against BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit. The AAP leader alleged that BJP workers, with police support, were threatening and harassing AAP volunteers to disrupt his party’s campaign.
"The kind of hooliganism Amit Shah has spread in Delhi has never been seen before," Kejriwal had claimed, accusing the Union Home Minister of resorting to intimidation tactics out of desperation. He also launched a social media campaign with the hashtag *#AmitShahKiGoondagardi*, urging people to share instances of being attacked or threatened.
The BJP dismissed Kejriwal’s allegations, calling them a sign of frustration. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra said, “Kejriwal knows he is losing, so he is now abusing and calling the home minister mad. This is nothing but the frustration of an imminent defeat.” Patra further claimed that according to the BJP’s internal surveys, the party was set to win Delhi with a “massive mandate.”
Speaking to ANI, Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva remarked, "We have been saying this from day one. As the elections approach, Arvind Kejriwal will get his people attacked, I said this 18 days back and it is happening now. These are Kejriwal's old tactics to have his people attacked by his own. This time Delhi knows about his disgusting acts. It will give an answer to that on the 5th."
"Voting will be in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. A double-engine government will be formed in Delhi under the leadership of Narendra Modi and corrupt people like Arvind Kejriwal will now leave Delhi," he added.
As the political tensions escalate, all eyes are on the high-stakes Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for 5 February, with results to be announced on 8 February. The AAP is aiming for a third consecutive term, while the BJP is determined to reclaim power in the national capital after more than two decades.
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