Kejriwal targets CEC Rajiv Kumar: “What post after retirement?”

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), launched a scathing attack on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Monday. Kejriwal accused Kumar of surrendering to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to secure a post-retirement appointment.

At a press conference on the last day of Delhi’s election campaigning, Kejriwal questioned the CEC’s integrity and called for him to prioritize his duty over personal ambitions. He specifically questioned what post Kumar could have been promised, mentioning positions like governor or president.

Kejriwal, deeply critical of the Election Commission, claimed it no longer functioned independently, suggesting the BJP had unduly influenced it. “It seems as if the Election Commission does not exist,” Kejriwal remarked. He urged Rajiv Kumar to forsake any personal gains and focus on ensuring fair elections. Kejriwal warned that the country’s democracy would suffer if Kumar allowed such desires to cloud his judgment at the end of his career.

The AAP leader has been vocal about his concerns over alleged electoral malpractices, particularly accusing BJP’s Parvesh Verma of distributing cash in New Delhi. Kejriwal expressed frustration over the Election Commission’s lack of action on these claims.

Earlier, the poll panel had sought an explanation from Kejriwal after he accused the Haryana BJP government of poisoning the Yamuna water supply to Delhi. Kejriwal defended his comments, stating they were prompted by the urgent public health crisis regarding water quality in the city.

Kejriwal has also requested the Election Commission to deploy special observers in his constituency due to what he called “hooliganism” by the BJP. The BJP, however, hit back, claiming Kejriwal’s aggressive language was a sign of his impending defeat. They suggested that the AAP leader’s statements reflected an unstable mental condition.

In a late-night post on X, Kejriwal claimed that the Election Commission no longer functioned impartially in India, expressing his disillusionment with its role in the election process.

In the New Delhi constituency, Kejriwal faces a tough triangular contest against BJP’s Parvesh Verma and Congress’s Sandeep Dikshit. Kejriwal, aiming for a third consecutive term, faces the BJP’s push to reclaim the capital after over 25 years. Meanwhile, he alleged that Delhi police had removed AAP supporters who were showing their enthusiasm for the party, accusing the police of acting under the influence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

As the Delhi assembly election looms on February 5, with results due on February 8, Kejriwal’s campaign has been marked by mounting accusations of unfair electoral tactics, casting a shadow over the election’s integrity.