Arvind Kejriwal Writes to Mohan Bhagwat: “Does RSS Support Buying Votes?

Amidst the ongoing Delhi election campaign, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has stirred a political storm by addressing a pointed letter to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat. In his letter, the Delhi Chief Minister raised concerns about the BJP’s alleged “wrongdoings” during the election, directly questioning whether the RSS endorses such practices.

Kejriwal accused the BJP of engaging in unethical practices, asking, “Does the RSS support BJP leaders openly distributing money to buy votes? Are the large-scale deletions of Dalit and Purvanchali voters from electoral rolls acceptable to the RSS? Does the RSS think weakening democracy is justified?”

The letter comes amid AAP's accusations that the BJP is orchestrating mass voter deletions to manipulate election results. Meanwhile, the BJP has countered by alleging that AAP is adding fake voters to electoral rolls to boost its chances.

BJP Hits Back

Responding sharply, Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva wrote a counter-letter accusing Kejriwal of spreading lies and deceit. “We hope you abandon your habits of falsehoods and make meaningful changes within yourself,” Sachdeva stated.

In a media interaction, Kejriwal alleged that the BJP has no vision or credible candidates for the election, resorting instead to dishonest means. “The BJP is trying to win this election using tactics they’ve used in Maharashtra and Haryana. But Delhi’s people won’t let this happen,” he asserted, urging voters to check their names on voter lists to counter possible tampering.

Allegations of “Operation Lotus”

Kejriwal accused the BJP of launching “Operation Lotus” in his New Delhi constituency, claiming that 5,000 voter names were flagged for deletion while 7,500 new names were submitted for addition. He described this as a blatant attempt to rig the electoral process, questioning the legitimacy of holding elections under such circumstances.

“The Election Commission released a revised voter list on October 29 after a summary revision. If the BJP claims there’s a 12% discrepancy, was the summary revision incorrect?” he asked.

The AAP leader also alleged that BJP was using fake documents to register non-residents as Delhi voters and warned government officials against engaging in unlawful activities under political pressure. “Your signatures on these papers will stay, even after governments change. Follow the law or face consequences,” he cautioned.

BJP’s Defense

Dismissing the allegations, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva argued that voter additions during AAP’s tenure had already inflated electoral rolls. He questioned, “Who added these voters? Dead people and those who’ve moved away—why should their names remain on the rolls?”

The BJP alleged that AAP had previously manipulated voter lists and was attempting to do so again under the guise of exposing malpractice.

Historical Precedent

This isn’t the first time Kejriwal has questioned the RSS and BJP leadership. In September, he wrote to Mohan Bhagwat, raising concerns about the alleged misuse of central agencies and the BJP’s tactics under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

High-Stakes Campaign

The controversy comes at a critical juncture in Delhi’s political landscape, with both parties battling for dominance in the capital. While AAP positions itself as a protector of democratic integrity, the BJP continues to challenge the ruling party’s governance record and accusations of electoral manipulation.

What’s next? As the Delhi elections draw closer, the political rhetoric is set to escalate further, with both parties doubling down on their claims to sway the electorate.