Arvind Kejriwal Focused on Liquor, Overwhelmed by Money Power: Anna Hazare as BJP Leads in Delhi Election

New Delhi: Anti-corruption social activist Anna Hazare strongly condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal as Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tastes a heavy win for Delhi Assembly elections. Hazare accused Kejriwal of becoming liquor-minded and succumbing to the money power influence as he said the AAP leader ignored his word of maintaining integrity in politics.

Criticisms of Anna Hazare on Arvind Kejriwal

Speaking to reporters, Anna Hazare expressed his disappointment, saying, “I have always said that a candidate’s conduct and thoughts should be pure, and their life should be free of blame. They should be willing to sacrifice for the people. I conveyed this to Arvind Kejriwal, but he did not pay heed. Instead, he focused on liquor.”

Anna Hazare accused Kejriwal of giving in to the money power which further erodes the ethical moorings for his governance. He appealed the voters to select only those contestants who have the integrity and vision for national service.

Message to Delhi Electorate by Anna Hazare

Ahead of the elections, Anna Hazare had appealed to Delhi’s voters through a video message, asking them to support candidates with a clean character and a spirit of selfless service. He warned against voting for “useless” candidates, arguing that doing so would be detrimental to the country’s future.

Background of Kejriwal-Hazare Rift

Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal were once on the same page against corruption when the anti-graft movement began in 2011, which had Delhi as its epicenter. The movement culminated in AAP being formed in 2012 by Kejriwal and his colleagues. However, Hazare was never in favor of Kejriwal’s decision to enter politics, citing that electoral politics would dilute the core values of the movement.

BJP Takes a Strong Lead in Delhi

Latest trends suggest that BJP is currently leading the game in 46 out of the 70 assembly seats in Delhi. AAP has taken the lead in the 24 seats.

• From the New Delhi constituency, Arvind Kejriwal is trailing by 1844 votes.
• Former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia is loss Jagpura.
• Chief Minister Atishi is also behind from the Kalkaji seat.
• AAP’s Saurabh Bharadwaj trails by 1727 votes in Greater Kailash.

If trends are any indication, the BJP seems to be heading towards forming the next government in Delhi and thus ending the AAP’s ten-year rule in the capital.