UP Polls 2022: AAP Promises 300 Units Of Free Electricity, 24/7 Power Supply & More To Residents

Notably, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has made similar promises in Uttarakhand and Punjab, as it launched its campaign for the assembly elections slated to be held next year.

AAP held a press conference on Thursday to announce its poll promises ahead of the crucial Uttar Pradesh election to be held next year.

New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia, held a press conference on Thursday wherein he announced that the party will provide 300 units of free electricity to the residents of Uttar Pradesh within 24 hours of forming government in the state.

Furthermore, Sisodia said that if voted to power AAP, will ensure a 24/7 electricity supply in Uttar Pradesh like in Delhi.

AAP has committed to wave off dues on "inflated" electricity bills and also give a free power supply to farmers for their agricultural needs.

In the press conference, Manish Sisodia alleged that the electricity tariff in Uttar Pradesh is so expensive that it is becoming very difficult for people to pay the bills.

He also claimed that the government tells people "to either pay the electricity bill or be tagged as criminals".

He went on to claim that there are hundreds of instances in the state where common people have died by suicide after receiving inflated electricity bills.

Sisodia alleged that a farmer in Aligarh, named Ramji Lal, killed himself over non-payment of electricity bills, news agency PTI reported.

He also claimed that in Etah, a 17-year-old girl died by suicide just because the electricity department had sent a wrong bill to her father who was declared a criminal for not paying it.

"There are 38 lakh families in Uttar Pradesh who have been sent inflated electricity bills and the government is considering them as criminals. I want to tell these people that you support the Aam Aadmi Party and ensure that our party forms the government after the assembly elections. Tear the bills as soon as the government is formed. Everyone's outstanding bill will be waived. This is Arvind Kejriwal's guarantee," Sisodia said, as quoted by PTI.

The party promises to provide 300 units of electricity free of cost to all domestic consumers per billing cycle, waive outstanding bills of 38 lakh families and ensure a 24-hour power supply.

When asked about the party's chief ministerial candidate, the Delhi Deputy Chief Minister said that the party will take a decision on it when the time comes.

The party is contesting the elections under the leadership of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, he added.

On this issue of electricity, Sisodia also claimed that since AAP formed government in the national capital, the residents there have not found the need to buy and use inverters and generators because of the uninterrupted power supply.

The residents of Uttar Pradesh can also have the same uninterrupted supply especially since the Delhi government buys electricity from states like UP and others, he emphasised.

Notably, the Arvind Kejriwal-led party has made similar promises in states like Uttarakhand and Punjab, as it launched its campaign for the assembly elections slated to be held next year.

AAP To Contest UP Election Alone

Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh had, on Wednesday, released the list of probable candidates for the upcoming 2022 Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. The party has decided to contest the elections in UP without any alliance.

 "Our party is stronger than the Congress in the state. While Congress won 40 seats in panchayat polls, we scored a victory in 83 panchayats. AAP got over 40 lakh votes in these polls, where 1600 party candidates contested," Singh, who is AAP's UP in-charge, told news agency PTI in an interview.

"The party has made Vidhan Sabha in-charges in 100-150 seats and our leaders are meeting those who want to contest," he informed, adding that the main issue to be raised by the AAP in the assembly elections "will be BJP's nationalism versus AAP's nationalism".

"BJP's nationalism is fake. Its nationalism is full of hatred and communalism. At the same time, the nationalism of the AAP is providing good education, good health, free electricity, free water, women's security, and happiness," he alleged, hitting out at the BJP, claiming that it was "afraid" of the AAP's model of governance and was indulging in vindictive politics.