Kejriwal 'heckled' at Vadodara airport, says BJP and Cong united to 'abuse' him
Vadodara (PTI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday claimed he was heckled at the Vadodara airport in Gujarat by a group of people who raised slogans hailing Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Kejriwal also claimed supporters of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) never raise slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when he visits Gujarat and alleged that BJP and Congress are "united" to abuse him and AAP.
"When I landed at the airport in Vadodara, some 30-40 people shouted, 'Modi', 'Modi', 'Modi' in front of me. The situation in Gujarat is such that BJP is going to be in great trouble," the Delhi Chief Minister told reporters.
Kejriwal is in Vadodara to address a town hall meeting as part of the campaign to reach out to various sections of society ahead of the elections, due in December this year.
"It is said that there are 66 seats in urban areas (in Gujarat) which BJP never lost. But this time, they will be in trouble. They are not going to win all these seats (in upcoming Assembly elections)," Kejriwal said.
He alleged BJP and Congress were abusing him because he talks about the well-being of the people of Gujarat.
"BJP supporters never shout slogans against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi when he visits Gujarat. This is because both parties are united against me and AAP. Both BJP and Congress shout slogans against Kejriwal. They are united and abuse me," he alleged.
In the coming days, Congress and BJP will field national-level leaders in Gujarat "who will abuse me", the AAP leader said.
Kejriwal is leading the AAP's poll campaign in Gujarat, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
During his multiple visits to the state, he had promised a string of "guarantees" including free power and the generation of jobs. He also assured the welfare of various sections, including women, youth, lawyers, auto-rickshaw drivers, government employees etc.
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Delhi Polls: BJP faces protest, placates MLA amid resentment over ticket distribution
New Delhi, Jan 12: Resentment surfaced in the BJP on Sunday over ticket distribution for Delhi Assembly polls, with a protest held outside its Delhi unit office and an angry outburst by the outgoing MLA from Karawal Nagar who was not included in the candidate list released a day earlier.
As MLA Mohan Singh Bisht threatened to revolt after being denied a ticket from Karawal Nagar, the party rushed to control the damage and announced his candidature from the Mustafabad seat this evening.
A group of protesters from Tughlakabad in South Delhi held a dharna at the gate of the Delhi BJP office, demanding a change in the candidate from the constituency.
"Vikram Bidhuri Tum Sangharsh Karo; Modi Se Bair Nahi, Rohtas Teri Khair Nahi," the protesters, including mostly youngsters, chanted as the party leaders tried to pacify them.
In the second list of BJP candidates for the polls declared on Saturday, Rohtas Bidhuri was fielded from the Tughlakabad seat. In 2020 Assembly polls, Vikram Bidhuri who is a relative of senior party leader Ramesh Bidhuri, lost to AAP's Sahiram by over 13,000 votes.
A similar protest was also held by some party workers outside the Delhi BJP office against Mehrauli candidate Gajainder Yadav after the announcement of the first list of candidates earlier this month.
Bisht, the senior-most BJP MLA in the outgoing Assembly elected five times from Karawal Nagar, openly expressed unhappiness over being denied the ticket to contest from his stronghold.
A senior party leader said he was pacified after a meeting with BJP chief JP Nadda.
Bisht, after getting the ticket from Mustafabad, expressed confidence that he would win the seat for the BJP.
"I met the national president and things were ironed out. I have assured that I will contest from Mustafabad and win the seat for the party," Bisht told PTI.
The MLA said he and the BJP had considerable support in Mustafabad and he has already attended two public meetings there.
The BJP won the Mustafabad seat, having a significant minority community presence, in the 2015 Assembly polls but lost it to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2020.
Earlier in the day, Bisht told PTI that the party's decision to replace him with Kapil Mishra was "wrong" and its consequences will be visible after voting on February 5.
"You have challenged the 'samaj' (his Uttarakhandi community), not Mohan Singh Bisht. The BJP will lose at least 8-10 seats because of this decision, including Karawal Nagar, Burari, Mustafabad and Gokalpuri," Bisht warned.
The BJP fielded Kapil Mishra, a Hindutva hardliner, from Karwal Nagar in North East Delhi, which was rocked by massive communal violence just after the 2020 Assembly polls.
Sources in the party claimed that there was also "deep resentment" among the Delhi BJP's Scheduled Castes Morcha leaders over being denied tickets from different constituencies including Madipur and Kondli.
A top Delhi BJP functionary stressed that there are many ticket aspirants, so it is natural for those who did not get selected to feel disappointed.
"The BJP is a disciplined party and its leaders understand this. Sooner or later, everyone will realise this and work for the victory of the party giving up their resentment," he said.
The elections to 70 Assembly seats in Delhi are scheduled on February 5. Results will be out after the counting of votes on February 8.
The BJP, out of power in Delhi since 1998, is making all-out efforts to return to power. In the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls, the party was completely routed by the AAP, scraping through with just three and eight seats, respectively.
