As the capital is heating up the upcoming assembly elections, the war of allegations between AAP and BJP have begun. In a dramatic turn of events, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Friday accused the BJP-led Central government and the Delhi police of orchestrating a calculated conspiracy to compromise the safety of their leader and Delhi Chief Minister, Arvind Kejriwal. The party has called on the Election Commission to reinstate his security cover provided by the Punjab police, which has recently been withdrawn.

Addressing the media, AAP leaders painted a grim picture, alleging that Mr. Kejriwal’s life is at risk due to a deliberate strategy employed by the BJP and Delhi police. “There are two players involved in this conspiracy — the BJP and the Delhi police. They are both working together to eliminate Kejriwal ji,” asserted Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, joined by Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. They cited multiple “life-threatening” incidents in the last few months, which, according to them, occurred under the “mute watch” of the Delhi police.

The party has accused the Delhi police of acting on the directions of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging deliberate inaction in the face of these attacks. “In October last year, an attack was carried out on Mr. Kejriwal. Our investigation revealed that the attackers were BJP workers, but no action was taken,” Atishi stated.

Key Points from AAP’s Allegations

Repeated Attacks: AAP leaders have listed four significant incidents in the past three months where Mr. Kejriwal’s safety was allegedly compromised. These incidents reportedly occurred in the presence of Delhi police personnel, who, according to AAP, acted as “mute spectators.”

Security Withdrawal: The Punjab police, which previously formed an integral part of Mr. Kejriwal’s security, was abruptly withdrawn. AAP leaders called this decision politically motivated, leaving the Delhi Chief Minister reliant solely on the Delhi police, which they claim is controlled by the BJP.

Direct Letter to the Election Commission: In their letter to the Election Commission, both Atishi and Bhagwant Mann have demanded: Immediate reinstatement of Mr. Kejriwal’s Punjab police security cover. An audit of all alleged attacks on Mr. Kejriwal’s life. Measures to ensure fair ground in the upcoming February 5 Delhi Assembly polls.

BJP’s Counterclaims

The BJP has swiftly dismissed AAP’s allegations as a politically motivated stunt. Parvesh Verma, the BJP candidate from the New Delhi constituency, lambasted Mr. Kejriwal, accusing him of creating a false narrative to divert attention from his government’s “growing failures.”

“The Delhi police provide adequate security to Mr. Kejriwal. Why does he need additional protection from Punjab?” Mr. Verma questioned. He described the accusations as a calculated ploy to gain sympathy votes ahead of the elections.

As per the face of BJP’s Delhi Elections Parvesh Verma “Kejriwal is fabricating a security threat to stage election theatrics. This is nothing more than a desperate attempt to cover up his governance failures.” Rebutting these claims the Delhi BJP CM face says “Posters claiming ‘Why was I attacked?’ are part of this drama. The AAP is resorting to emotional manipulation to win votes.” This back-and-forth highlights the deepening rift between the ruling AAP in Delhi and the BJP-led Central government. As elections near, accusations and counteraccusations have taken center stage, steering public attention away from pressing governance issues.

AAP’s allegations underline a critical narrative: the potential politicization of state security. The party has argued that withdrawing the Punjab police from Mr. Kejriwal’s security detail is not just a personal threat to his life but also a “direct attack on democracy.” “This reckless decision jeopardizes Mr. Kejriwal’s safety and undermines public trust in the fairness of law enforcement agencies,” AAP leaders noted.

For the BJP, these allegations are a timely opportunity to question AAP’s governance record. “Instead of addressing issues like rising pollution, water scarcity, and employment in Delhi, Mr. Kejriwal is engaging in a political drama to hide his failures,” BJP spokespersons have repeatedly said in recent statements. The ongoing feud has sparked heated debates on social media platforms. Supporters of both parties are rallying behind their respective leaders, amplifying the rhetoric on digital platforms. Public opinion appears divided.

As the situation escalates, the Election Commission finds itself at the center of the controversy. Both parties have turned to the EC to either validate or dismiss their claims. “The Election Commission’s actions in the coming days will set a precedent for how political security concerns are addressed during elections,” said a political analyst.

The accusations surrounding Mr. Kejriwal’s security detail underscore a larger political drama unfolding in Delhi. While the AAP paints itself as a victim of political vendetta, the BJP counters with allegations of opportunistic theatrics. As the Delhi Assembly elections approach, these narratives will undoubtedly shape voter perceptions, influencing the trajectory of Indian politics in the months to come.