AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal addressing the media on Tuesday
Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has said his party will fight the Delhi elections by projecting its work during its 49 days of rule earlier this year and on the promise of making Delhi corruption-free and a world-class city.
As the Union Cabinet cleared the decks today for fresh elections in Delhi, AAP also said it would pitch Mr Kejriwal against the BJP's Jagdish Mukhi for chief minister.
"The people of Delhi have waited for eight months for elections. They have to choose whether they want Arvind Kejriwal or Jagdish Mukhi as chief minister," said AAP leader and former minister Manish Sisodia, adding that the Congress is insignificant in this election.
Mr Mukhi, a Delhi BJP veteran, was seen as a front runner for chief minister if his party had attempted to form government in Delhi, which has been under President's Rule since February. But the BJP - which told Delhi's Lieutenant Governor yesterday that it would not take a shot at government formation - said today that it will not project any leader for chief minister in the forthcoming elections.
"The lotus will be the face of this election," said BJP Delhi chief Satish Upadhyay, pointing out that much has changed since the Delhi elections in December last, when the party had projected Dr Harshvardhan, now a union minister, as its candidate for chief minister.
Since then, the BJP has come to power at the Centre with a big win scripted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It found a winning formula in contesting state elections in Maharashtra and Haryana last month by banking solely on Mr Modi as vote-catcher and, Mr Upadhyay said, would use it in Delhi too.
"There is a big difference between the last election and now. Last year Manmohan Singh was PM and now Narendra Modi is. We will seek votes on our record of good governance," Mr Upadhyay said.
On AAP pitching Mr Kejriwal against Mr Mukhi, the Dehli BJP chief said, "That is for us to decide not them."
The BJP was the single largest party in the Delhi elections held last December, but didn't have a majority. After it said no to forming government, the Congress helped install an AAP government with Mr Kejriwal as Chief Minister.
Arvind Kejriwal quit 49 days later and President's Rule was imposed.