Delhi Polls: Bidhuri Compares Atishi To 'Deer Roaming In Jungle'; Case Filed Against BJP's Parvesh Verma | Latest

Another day, another controversy as the Delhi assembly elections get closer. Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Kalkaji, Ramesh Bidhuri during a rally compared Delhi Chief Minister Atishi to a 'deer' saying she is 'roaming' around the national capital to meet voters as part of her poll campaigns.

On the other hand, a non-cognizable report has been filed against another notable BJP candidate Parvesh Verma for allegedly violating poll codes by distributing shoes at a temple recently.

Several noteworthy Aam Aadmi Party candidates have filed their nominations today including their supremo Arvind Kejriwal.

The Delhi Assembly polls for the 70 seats in the Assembly is scheduled for February 5 and the counting will take place on February 8.

Parvesh Verma Allegedly Violates Poll Codes By Distributing Shoes

The Delhi Police has been asked to investigate BJP candidate Parvesh Verma's 'shoe distribution' stint at a Valmiki temple earlier which is being considered as 'violation of poll code' by the returning officer for the New Delhi Assembly segment .

Citing complaints received about the alleged act of "corruption," the returning officer has instructed the station house office of the area to initiate the action for violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and has sought an action-taken report at the earliest.

According to the returning officer's order, advocate Rajnish Bhaskar filed a complaint through WhatsApp, alleging that Parvesh Verma, the BJP candidate for the New Delhi seat, was distributing shoes to electors at the Valmiki Temple near the Mandir Marg Police Station.

The complainant also submitted two videos purportedly showing Verma "distributing" shoes to women.

A non-cognizable report (NCR) has been filed based on the complaint against Verma, and further investigation has been initiated, reported PTI.

Under Section 123 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 (1) (A), offering or distributing any gift, gratification, or promise by a candidate or their agent, or by any person with the candidate's consent, to any elector is considered a corrupt practice.

Verma in response to the complaints of corruption has claimed that he was trying to honour the sanitation workers by placing shoes on their feet at the temple and no footwear was distributed.

"No shoes were distributed. Only a few shoes were offered as a mark of respect towards the sanitation workers," claimed an aide of the BJP leader.

Bidhuri's Remarks Against CM Atishi

BJP candidate from Kalkaji Ramesh Bidhuri has found himself in yet another controversy on Wednesday when he reportedly compared Delhi CM Atishi with a 'deer' while talking about poor condition so the roads in the national capital.

Bidhuri was addressing a rally in Delhi when he claimed that AAP leader Atishi did not meet the people of the city while the party was in power but now ahead of the elections she is roaming around like a 'deer' to meet the voters.

India Today in its report quoted Bidhuri saying, "Dilli ki janta nark bhog rahi hai galiyon mei... galiyon ki halat dekhiye... Kabhi Atishi nahi gayi milne logon se. Lekin ab chunaav ke samay jaise jungle mei hirni bhaagti hai vaise Atishi Dilli ki sadko pr hirni jaise ghoom rahi hain (Due to the poor conditions of the streets, the people of Delhi are suffering... look at the condition of the streets... Atishi never went to meet the people, but now during the elections, she is roaming the streets of Delhi like a deer running in the jungle)."

Bidhuri had earlier claimed that she changed her 'father' while adding that she allegedly changed her surname from Marlena to Singh. On January 6, Bidhuri was heard saying, "Atishi, who was Marlena, is now Singh. She has even changed her father."

"This Marlena (Atishi) became Singh. She changed her name. Arvind Kejriwal swore on his children not to align with the corrupt Congress. Marlena changed her father. This reflects the character of the Aam Aadmi Party," Bidhuri added.

His comments were condemned by AAP and its leaders.

Rahul Gandhi Vs BJP

Addressing party leaders at Indira Gandhi Bhawan, Gandhi said they are fighting this battle of ideologies under difficult circumstances where institutions have been "captured" by the BJP and the RSS and investigative agencies are being used against opposition leaders.

He also hit out at the Election Commission and alleged there is a "serious problem" with the country's election system and the poll body needs to come clean on the issue of voter lists in Maharashtra and Haryana elections.

Continuing to attack the ruling BJP, Gandhi alleged, "Do not think that we are fighting a fair fight. There is no fairness in this. If you believe that we are fighting a political organisation called the BJP, that we are fighting a political organisation called the RSS, you have not understood what is going on. The BJP and the RSS have captured every single institution of our country. We are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian state itself."

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asked what for the Congress and Gandhi carry a copy of the Constitution when the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha is using such a language.

Nadda said on X that Gandhi has exposed his own party's "ugly truth", claiming that it is no secret that Gandhi and his ecosystem have close links with urban naxals and the deep state who want to "defame, demean and discredit" India.

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Union Minister Bittu Calls Kejriwal 'Liar' during Campaign

Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday called AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal a "fraud" and a "liar".

Bittu campaigned in support of the BJP candidate from the Hari Nagar Assembly constituency, Sham Sharma, who filed his nomination papers and held a road show.

Talking to media persons, Bittu, who is the BJP leader from Punjab where the Aam Aadmi Party is in power, said, "He (Kejriwal) is a fraud and a liar."

The people of Delhi will not trust him anymore, he added.

Claiming that the AAP government has "destroyed" Punjab, Bittu said the state has a debt of more than Rs 4 lakh crore as Kejriwal has "looted money from there to contest elections in Delhi".

Bittu said the AAP chief made several promises, including cash schemes, to the people of Punjab ahead of the Assembly polls there but none of them were fulfilled.

Other Delhi Polls Updates

Kejriwal, Sisodia & Others File Nomination

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday filed his nomination from New Delhi constituency for the upcoming assembly elections and urged people to vote based on work and not "abuses".

Before filing his nomination papers, Kejriwal, accompanied by his wife Sunita, offered prayers at Hanuman and Valmiki temples. He then led a 'padyatra' from the AAP office to the New Delhi district magistrate's office, where he filed his nomination.

Hundreds of AAP workers, carrying party flags, walked with the former chief minister.

After filing his nomination, Kejriwal exuded confidence that the AAP would return to power in Delhi.

"AAP will form the government with full majority," he told reporters.

Senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia visited a temple and held a roadshow on Wednesday before filing his nomination for the Jangpura Assembly seat.

Rajan Singh, a 27-year-old transgender, has filed their nomination on Wednesday as the Aam Janata Party candidate from the Kalkaji constituency, calling it “a beautiful picture of democracy.”

Singh, a resident of Sangam Vihar, submitted their nomination papers alongside their transgender friends and supporters.

AAP Changed Candidates For 2 Seats

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday changed its candidates for Hari Nagar and Narela constituencies.

The party replaced the outgoing Hari Nagar MLA Rajkumari Dhillon, who was fielded again by the party from the seat, with Surinder Setia. Dinesh Bharadwaj, fielded from Narela, was replaced by Sharad Chauhan.