Delhi has voted and the exit polls have predicted a win for Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party. The BJP, on its part hopes that the surveys are proved wrong. Both the parties had tried to outdo each other in a frenzied bout of campaigning in the national capital.
While the BJP roped in senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to hold rallies, AAP came up with unusual ideas like party workers campaigning in metro trains and Delhi-bound trains. Though making headlines is common for politicians during a election season, things got quite dramatic in Delhi as polling day got closer. The last few weeks were marked by everything out of a saas-bahu soap – allegations, blame games, changing allegiances, tears etc.
Here are some memorable dramatic moments from the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections:
1. Former AAP leaders Shazia Ilmi, Vinod Kumar Binny cross over to BJP: That things had gotten sour between Arvind Kejriwal and Shazia Ilmi was no secret. But it was quite the shocker when Ilmi was welcomed by a proud and gloating Amit Shah into the BJP. Another former AAP leader who followed Ilmi into the BJP was Vinod Kumar Binny.
2. Arvind Kejriwal, Kiran Bedi fight over advertisements: There is no election in the country without some tu tu main main, and of course Delhi was no exception. Even as BJP and AAP nitpicked at each other, Kiran Bedi was infuriated with the fact that Kejriwal’s party had used her photo for an advertisement without her permission and called her avsarvadi (opportunistic). Kejriwal too didn’t let it pass when a BJP ad said he was from an Updravi gotra (anarchist clan). The AAP chief cried all over Twitter saying, “The BJP can fight against me. But how can they call the entire Agarwal gotra a disruptive one.” The EC was dragged in on both the occasions.
3. AVAM says AAP was involved in swindling money: It looked like smooth sailing for AAP with even pre-poll surveys predicting voters leaning towards them. But then came along Aam Aadmi Volunteer Action Manch claiming that our own Gandhi-quoting mufflerman Kejriwal had fudged his accounts and named bogus companies as donors for the party. AAP, of course, took the turn-the-other-cheek path and called for a probe and promised of no wrongdoing.
4. Overwhelmed Kiran Bedi breaks down: The former IPS officer may be a tough nut to crack, but all the love from ‘Dilwalon Ki Dilli’ melted her heart to mush. The BJP chief ministerial candidate burst into tears during campaigning. “I’m overwhelmed by the love from people… I will return it,” she told the cameras.
5. BJP’s Nupur Sharma blames AAP workers of manhandling her: Sharma alleged that she, along with her female colleagues, was manhandled by AAP volunteers. The incident happened near India Gate. However, Sharma has not yet lodged any police complaint. “The AAP volunteers wearing their party caps and T-shirts were trying to influence voters. I raised objection saying they cannot canvass on polling day. Irritated AAP supporters indulged in violence and manhandled me and my colleagues,” she told Firstpost. AAP in turn solemnly vowed to look into the matter and asked Sharma to file a complaint.
