New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal made a big pre-election announcement, where he promised free bus travel for students if the party returned to power in Delhi. The declaration comes right ahead of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s release of the election manifesto for the upcoming Delhi Assembly polls.
He made the remarks at a press conference, adding, ‘We have fulfilled our previous promise of free bus travel for women.’ We are focusing now on students. “Meaning if AAP comes to power, bus travel for all students will be free in Delhi.”
AAP convenor also said he has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking a 50 per cent fare concession in Delhi Metro for students. “Whether students were to pay the same metro fares or half, we have requested the prime minister to ensure that students pay only half the metro fare as it will help them financially,” Kejriwal said, adding that the final decision regarding metro fares was to be taken by the central government.
Taking a dig at the BJP’s attitude towards voters from the Purvanchal region, Kejriwal said that the model code applies to the Union Home Ministry and not all parts of India. The Purvanchal community is respected greatly by the AAP.”Uttar Pradesh and Bihar people come to Delhi for education, or they come for jobs; it has been their house. The BJP, however, is contemptuous of them, he alleged.
AAP leader dared BJP to name Purvanchal community achievements under the earlier regime of ten years. The BJP insulted AAP leader Rutijram Jhae on national television, implying that it is indicative of the party’s disdain for the entire community. Taking a dig at the BJP’s ticket distribution, Kejriwal also pointed out that while the BJP has given tickets to five candidates from the Purvanchal region, the AAP has fielded twelve.
And as Delhi’s electoral battle reaches a climax, these announcements and accusations will almost certainly help determine how the political battle is fought out between AAP and BJP over key voter demographics in the coming days.