As the Aam Aadmi Party candidate from the New Delhi constituency, you started your campaign early in comparison to your opponents. How has been the public response during the campaigning?
Arvind Kejriwal (pointing at a crowd in Sarojini Nagar on Sunday): Have you ever seen such kind of roadshow in the New Delhi constituency? Of course, people’s response has been overwhelming and has only increased with each passing day. People in this constituency complain that Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit does not even visit the area. Looking at the public support the AAP has got, I do not have any hesitation in saying that she will lose by a huge margin. Whatever be the case, people trust our sincerity. “ Inko mouqa milna chahiye” (they should get a chance) is what they say.
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi campaigned for Delhi BJP several times but earlier he did not target your party. But, on Saturday, for the first time he alleged that while the Congress loots with both hands, the AAP will rob the country of its resources sweeping everything away with its broom.
Arvind Kejriwal:Rajneeti bayanbajee se nahi balki zameeni muddon se hoti hai! (Politics is not just about catchy slogans, but grassroot issues). Those who make such statements should see the people’s support that we have been getting. But I am not surprised at all (at Mr. Modi’s statement). This is a sign of BJP’s frustration over its diminishing credibility. The party has realised that the AAP is eating into its vote base, comprising the youth and the educated middle class voters who are now looking towards the AAP as a better alternative.
Delhi BJP has organised several rallies led by Mr. Modi. To what extent will it impact the outcome?
Arvind Kejriwal : Mr. Modi will not be a factor at all! You take any issue which is a deciding factor in this election, be it corruption, power tariffs, price rise, women’s safety, water and sanitation, for Delhi’s electorate there is no difference between the Congress and the BJP. Mr. Modi cannot wash away the corrupt image of the BJP leaders. Everybody knows about the rampant corruption in the BJP-ruled Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
How many seats will the AAP get ultimately? Will you support any party in case of a hung Assembly?
Arvind Kejriwal : We will get much more than what different surveys have predicted. There is no question of a hung Assembly. We will form the government. We would prefer going for fresh elections than getting support from other parties because people’s mandate to us is to start new brand of politics.
