BJP using other parties to target us, alleges AAP's Raghav Chadha

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 6

The upcoming Assembly elections will not be a four-way fight but a direct contest between the AAP and other political parties, all remote controlled by the BJP, claims AAP MLA from Delhi and Punjab affairs co-incharge Raghav Chadha.

“We are preparing for this and our list of candidates will be out anytime soon,” he told The Tribune, in the midst of preparations for party supremo Arvind Kejriwal’s visit on Tuesday. Chadha claimed there was a palpable groundswell in favour of the AAP, as voters of Punjab were “tired of misgovernance” by other parties. “Seeing this, the BJP at the Centre will use its ‘remote control’ to use other parties as puppets so as to keep us at bay. And this is not the first time that it will try to control the outcome of elections.”

Chadha said even during the last Assembly elections, the BJP, using central agencies, had swayed voters away from AAP, to thwart the formation of a strong anti-BJP front.

“This time, too, they have tried to coerce some of our Punjab leaders, like Bhagwant Mann, to join them. As the elections are approaching, the BJP will again pull strings and try and manoeuvre its way to keep us out. However, they are forgetting the power of people in a democracy. Punjabis will give the BJP a befitting reply,” he said.

Asked about the party’s strategy and delay in announcing the candidates, Chadha said the party had Delhi’s good governance to show in Punjab. People were comparing AAP government’s development model with the rivals’ “personal development model”.

“Our candidates will be announced anytime soon. People are enthused with what Kejriwal is promising them through his guarantees and unlike in the case of other parties, that are viewed with suspicion, people are willing to take a chance with AAP,” he said.

Chadha said the AAP would seek votes only on the development agenda, and not engage in divisive politics practised by their opponents.

‘Money offer’: Mann dared to Name leader

BJP leader Tarun Chugh on Monday slammed AAP MP Bhagwant Mann for claiming that a party leader offered him money and a Cabinet berth to win him over, saying it was gimmickry to strengthen his position within the outfit. Chugh challenged him to name the leader. TNS