Kejriwal flexes political muscle in big show of strength

A sea of white caps, Arvind Kejriwal cut-outs and people thronging both sides of the roads waving jhadus (brooms, AAP’s election symbol), marked the AAP leader’s ‘show of strength’ in his New Delhi constituency on Tuesday, ahead of filing his nomination papers.

“On my way to file nomination. Accompanied by parents, kids and hundreds of friends. Being a govt servant, my wife can't join. Poor she!,” Kejriwal had tweeted in the morning.

But that was not to be. The former Delhi Chief Minister could not file his nomination papers because he could not reach the election office on time due to “massive public response” to his roadshow, said AAP sources.

BJP supporters, however, termed this as another Kejriwal “drama” to grab media attention on Wednesday, when Kiran Bedi, his bête noire and Chief Minister aspirant, is slated to file her nomination papers.

Kejriwal’s roadshow, held in the heart of Delhi and said to be 7 km long, had a mix of his party’s support base.

There were people from resettlement colonies, slum-dwellers and vendors walking along with small traders, students, women and men representing the middle classes.

Adding colour was a flash mob that broke into a dance.

“The people of Delhi will script history by giving AAP the single largest majority as they want to convert those 49 days of good governance into five years... BJP is a machine of lies and rumours,” Kejriwal said atop an open roof vehicle.

Sumitra, a middle class woman from RK Puram, a government staff colony, said she was very angry with Kejriwal for quitting the government.

“But after he apologised, I feel he should be given another chance as he has shown that he can deliver,” she added.

Giving a glimpse into the direct AAP-BJP electoral battle in Delhi, she said while her husband and son are campaigning for the BJP, she and her daughter are with Kejriwal. “Modi has not delivered even one of his 100 promises,” she added.

However, the AAP’s lack of planning and organisation led to some confusion at Jantar Mantar, as Kejriwal failed to reach the announced destination from where he was to spell out the AAP’s agenda for making Delhi a better city. Even as the crowds and the media started gathering, they were told by the police that the roadshow had to be called off as Kejriwal had overshot the time limit sanctioned by the authorities.

Meanwhile, the Kejriwal-Bedi battle also poured into cyberspace with television channels seeking a pre-poll debate between the two.

Bedi refused to take the challenge, saying she is ready for a debate but only on the floor of the House after the elections, while Kejriwal kept tweeting in reply to various channels, “I am ready, but Kiranji is not agreeing.” Ajay Maken of the Congress had reportedly agreed to the debate.