Sharp fight between AAP and BJP over Dalit voters, BJP attacks Kejriwal’s old video

Before the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi, the political war between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified to woo Dalit voters.

• AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has started the election campaign by keeping the name of Baba Saheb Ambedkar at the center.
• On the other hand, BJP has started a campaign by making Kejriwal’s old statements an issue and calling him anti-reservation.

BJP’s counterattack on Kejriwal’s old video

BJP attacked Arvind Kejriwal for the second consecutive day by releasing an old video of him.

• Kejriwal’s statement in video:
  • “A family which gets the benefit of reservation once, should not get the benefit of it again.”
  • “If a person’s economic condition is good, he should not be given the benefit of reservation.”
• BJP’s allegation:
  • BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya shared this video and said:
    

    “This statement of Arvind Kejriwal is anti-Dalit and anti-Ambedkar. He is giving the formula to end reservation. Their intention is to end reservation and give its benefits to Rohingya and Bangladeshi infiltrators.”

  • Amit Malviya also said that Kejriwal is against the Constitution and the ideas of Baba Saheb.

Sharp attack by BJP leaders

Dr. Harsh Vardhan also targeted Kejriwal by sharing his old videos.

• He said:
  

  “The Kejriwal who is talking about the Constitution and Baba Saheb today used to say that reservation should be given only once. This statement is against the upliftment of Dalits.”

• Harsh Vardhan called Kejriwal a “swindler” and alleged that he has always made political use of individuals and issues.

Increasing tension between AAP and BJP

This controversy is happening at a time when Delhi elections are near and all the parties are trying to woo Dalit voters.

• BJP:
  • Kejriwal is adopting an aggressive stance regarding his old statements.
  • BJP leaders say that Kejriwal changed his views and is now trying to become Dalit friendly.
• AAP:
  • The party has made the ideas of Baba Saheb Ambedkar the center of its strategy.
  • Kejriwal’s focus is on connecting Dalits and deprived sections with the party.

Importance of Dalit voters in Delhi

Out of 70 seats in Delhi Assembly, 12 seats are reserved for Scheduled Castes.

• Dalit voters have a significant influence on other seats also.
• All three parties BJP, AAP and Congress are trying to prove themselves as the biggest supporters of Baba Saheb’s ideas.

BJP is searching for Kejriwal’s old tweets and statements

BJP has not only made Kejriwal’s old video an issue, but the party also unearthed a 10-year-old tweet of Delhi CM Atishi.

• BJP alleges that AAP and its leaders have always had an anti-reservation mentality.