Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday hailed the party's performance in the Gujarat and Punjab bypolls, calling them a 'semi-final to 2027' and a clear sign that voters would reject both the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress.
With 'dafli' beats in the background, AAP leaders held placards with photos of Ambedkar and raised slogans against the ruling party -- "BJP sun le, Jai Bhim, Jai Bhim" ... "BJP ki tanashahi nahin chalegi (BJP's dictatorship won't work)".
Lok Sabha on Monday turned into a battleground for the Delhi assembly polls with Bharatiya Janata Party member Ramvir Singh Bidhuri launching an all-out attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, alleging that they 'looted' the national capital and turned it into 'hell'.
An Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) team visited AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal's residence in New Delhi following allegations of the BJP attempting to poach AAP candidates ahead of the Delhi election results. AAP leaders, however, refused to allow the ACB officials to meet Kejriwal, accusing them of acting under the BJP's influence. The situation turned tense as the ACB officials were unclear about their purpose and did not have a warrant or mandate for investigation.
The Janata Dal (United) has demanded action against BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla for his comments targeting an AAP leader, which the regional party said has caused deep displeasure among people from Purvanchal. The JD(U) said Poonawalla's remarks, made during a TV debate, were offensive and demanded action from the BJP leadership. The incident comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, where the AAP is facing a tough challenge from the BJP.
Many were so disillusioned with AAP that they left it in droves. A 10% drop in AAP's vote share is a pointer to that. To assume that if AAP had teamed up with the Congress, the Congress' 6.3% vote share would have helped AAP retain control of Delhi is erroneous, argues Sudhir Bisht.
The BJP may win more seats in the February 5 assembly election, but not enough to trump AAP, notes Ramesh Menon.
From dubbing voices to putting faces with the help of AI, political campaigns are undergoing a Bollywood makeover. Among the favourites is a scene from the Anil Kapoor-starrer Nayak, posted by the BJP, where Kapoor asks about the Chunaavi Vaade (poll promise), with Arvind Kejriwal at the receiving end instead of Amrish Puri.
The ED's counsel also contended that Kavitha was a co-conspirator and a beneficiary of the excise "scam" and the proceeds of crime were directly going to her.
Chouhan and Raje were overlooked by the BJP for the chief minister posts in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan respectively despite ensuring the party's return to power in the assembly polls held recently.
The ongoing row between the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party government and the bureaucracy in wake of the Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash alleging assault comes as no surprise as the two have tussled over a range of issues in the past.
Sudden shifts in electoral loyalties could make the timing of Rahul Gandhi's assertion of leadership somewhat inopportune, notes Bharat Bhushan.
During his address, Kejriwal was speaking about the Delhi government's school education model when a section of the audience started chanting 'Modi, Modi' slogans.
Aam Aadmi Party dissident leader Prashant Bhushan on Tuesday rubbished criticism by former AAP spokesperson Atishi Marlena that he backed out of the reconciliatory talks with Arvind Kejriwal camp on his father Shanti Bhushan's insistence, saying the negotiations collapsed due to "trust deficit".
The BJP took a dig at AAP MLA Atishi, calling her a 'villain' and accusing her of orchestrating the ruckus during elections for the six-member standing committee.
The Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday questioned the Centre's motive behind granting more time to Aam Admi Party to form a government in Delhi and said it seems both the parties were not able to finalise a "deal".
In further escalation of infighting, Aam Aadmi Party dissident leaders Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav on Friday mounted a no-holds-barred attack on party chief Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of stifling internal democracy and adopting unfair means to capture power.
Exuding confidence, Kejriwal said, "Our government will be formed in Gujarat in 2027."
In the midst of the ongoing stand-off between the Delhi Lt Governor and the Aam Aadmi Party government, the Centre on Friday said it has no intention to run the city government through anyone but is conscious of its constitutional responsibility and committed to uphold it.
Nominated members of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) cannot vote in the mayoral election and the constitutional provision is "very clear" on that, the Supreme Court observed on Monday.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi House was adjourned for the day on Thursday as ruckus and sloganeering continued over the election of six members of the standing committee.
The Supreme Court on Friday said the nominated members of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) cannot vote in the mayoral election.
Projecting itself as the lone alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Aam Aadmi Party on Thursday launched a nationwide survey seeking people's opinion on the two parties.
The BJP is not taking the AAP challenge lightly. Amit Shah has cautioned party insiders to ensure that AAP does not cross a vote share of 24%. He has always seen AAP as a much more significant challenge than the Congress, observes Ramesh Menon, author, Modi Demystified: The Making Of A Prime Minister.
The list, which was released by Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, also included former AAP MLA Kapil Mishra and has 11 SC and four woman candidates.
After an apparent truce between AAP and the BJP following the Delhi polls, sparks are flying once again. Radhika Ramaseshan reports.
'AAP's next target will be Punjab.'
The Congress president accused the AAP of taking a U-turn over alliance talks.
Delhi picked up the pace and a 67 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm.
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday took a swipe at both the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, questioning their stand on gas pricing issue and their "relationship" with industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Adani.
Delhi Law Minister Somnath Bharti must be sacked, Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday said as pressure mounted on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for action against his controversial ministerial colleague.
Days after he quit Congress and created a controversy by taking down the website of the party state unit, Sanjay Puri on Thursday joined Aam Aadmi Party along with scores of Janakpuri block Congress workers.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Gul Panag has denied reports of an attack on her in Varanasi on Friday.
Lamba claimed after the walkout, "I got a message from the CM to tender my resignation. I'm ready to do so".
Two persons were injured in a clash which took place between AAP and Congress workers at Sultanpur village in Sangrur district.
The Election Commission on Thursday said prima facie Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal seemed to have violated the Model Code of Conduct by not seeking prior police permission before holding his road show in Gujarat on Wednesday.
Kejriwal claimed that AAP workers were first attacked by BJP supporters. Some of the agitated AAP workers had responded by pelting "two or three stones", he told media persons in Bhuj.
Kejriwal had on Sunday assured the bureaucrats that he will use all the powers and resources at his command to ensure their safety and security and called them part of his family.
The Sena said given what has been happening within his party, Kejriwal should cease to preach others about politics.