Assam: In a sharp political attack ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly elections, Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Pabitra Margherita criticized Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of failing to deliver on promises of development in the national capital. Margherita, during a recent visit to Delhi, described his experience as encountering the “AAPda” of Delhi—a play on the Hindi word for disaster.
Sharing his observations on the microblogging platform X, Margherita posted videos of muddy, poorly maintained streets and took direct jabs at Kejriwal’s administration. “Is this New Delhi city?” he remarked sarcastically, pointing at the deplorable road conditions. Highlighting an advertisement featuring Kejriwal’s image, he commented, “Money is just spent on advertisements,” suggesting that the AAP government prioritizes publicity over real progress.
As he walked through the streets, Margherita continued his critique, addressing Kejriwal mockingly, “Sahab Kejriwal, really, it is AAPda. Really disappointing… So this is your developmental model… Corruption is your main motto.” His remarks were accompanied by a social media post where he reiterated his disappointment, saying, “Experienced the ‘AAPda’ of Delhi today.”
The BJP has intensified its criticism of the AAP government as election campaigns gain momentum, accusing the party of corruption, inefficiency in welfare schemes, and failing to address pressing issues like pollution and infrastructure. The BJP’s narrative paints the AAP administration as a liability to the capital, with the term “AAPda” symbolizing what they claim is a governance disaster under Kejriwal’s leadership.
Responding to the allegations, AAP dismissed the BJP’s comments, labeling them as a “Galli Galoch party” (abusive party) and accusing the opposition of dishonest tactics and electoral fraud. The AAP government, which won a landslide victory in the 2020 assembly elections by securing 62 out of 70 seats, has touted its achievements in education, healthcare, and social welfare as evidence of its governance success.
Meanwhile, the Congress party, which once dominated Delhi politics for 15 years, continues to struggle for relevance, having failed to secure a single seat in the last two assembly elections. As the political stage heats up, the election timeline has been set, with polling scheduled for February 5, 2025, and vote counting on February 8. The deadline for filing nominations is January 17, with scrutiny set for January 18 and withdrawals allowed until January 20.
The upcoming elections promise to be a high-stakes battle, with the BJP seeking to unseat the AAP and Congress attempting to regain its footing. As campaign rhetoric escalates, the people of Delhi will ultimately decide whether AAP’s governance resonates or if the BJP’s criticism holds sway.
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