Atishi danced as Kejriwal's 'ploy to engineer her defeat failed': Anurag Thakur
Lucknow, Feb 9 (PTI): Former Union minister and BJP leader Anurag Thakur on Sunday alleged that outgoing Delhi Chief Minister Atishi danced after coming to know that Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal's "ploy to engineer her defeat had failed".
Thakur was commenting on a leaked video clip purportedly showing Atishi dancing after her victory from the Kalkaji Assembly constituency. The defeat has revealed the fissures in top AAP leaders, Thakur said.
Atishi was among the select AAP leaders who won the polls as others, including Kejriwal and former deputy chief minister Manish Sidodia, lost the polls.
"Look at the politics of Arvind Kejriwal, (he) came into politics by climbing upon the shoulders of Anna Hazare, finished him off, then formed his own party. He then finished off the founding members of his party," Thakur alleged.
Kejriwal's team worked against senior AAP leaders and ministers, but ultimately Kejriwal got the taste of his own medicine, he said.
"Atishi ji's name was missing from the election banner, poster and the entire (poll) campaign. Attempts were made to defeat her in her assembly constituency and that is why you saw her dance in the leaked video," Thakur said.
Elaborating further about the Delhi assembly elections, Thakur during his brief halt in Lucknow, said, "One of the major factors behind the BJP's win in Delhi was the 'Modi ki Guarantee', and there is full guarantee of it getting fulfilled. And people have thrown out those who make guarantee of lies, and have given a concrete guarantee that he (Kejriwal) will never enter again.
"Apart from this, the people of Delhi had got fed up with the misgovernance and corruption... Now, it is 'Delhi mein Modi, Desh mein Modi' and the roads leading from 'sankalp' (promise) to 'siddhi' (fulfillment) have been opened. The BJP has been chosen to make a 'viksit' Delhi. The promises, which we have made, we will fulfill them, this is 'Modi ki Guarantee'," Thakur said.
He also termed his experience of taking dip in the Sangam in the ongoing Maha Kumbh as "fantastic".
Commenting on the future of the INDIA bloc, the fifth term MP, said, "Any relationship works on truth, love and dedication, be it the seven 'pheras' (rounds taken around the fire during marriage) or the promise of moving together.
"They (INDIA bloc) could not move together even for seven months, and this togetherness was broken. And 'pyaar hua, ikraar hua, phir takraav hua aur phir takraav ke baad bikhraav hua' (first it was love, then it was acceptance, then friction and after friction, it was segregation)."
ये कैसा बेशर्मी का प्रदर्शन है ? पार्टी हार गई, सब बड़े नेता हार गये और Atishi Marlena ऐसे जश्न मना रही हैं ?? pic.twitter.com/zbRvooE6FY
— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) February 8, 2025
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
