Swati Maliwal slams Kejriwal for AAP’s dismal performance in the Haryana polls
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal (Photo: PTI)
As the counting of votes for the Haryana Assembly elections reached its final stage, it became clear that the Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to register a record third victory in the state. The Congress was significantly behind the saffron party at 4 pm and led with 36 seats, unlike the BJP who were ahead with 49, comfortably clearing the majority mark.
However, a notable point was the dismal performance of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which had established itself as the important alternative to two-party politics. The party was not leading in any seats during the counting process.
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal took the opportunity to criticize AAP president Arvind Kejriwal following the party’s poor performance in the Assembly elections in Haryana. “He came to Haryana only to take revenge on Congress. He falsely accused me of being a BJP agent, and today he is betraying the India Alliance and cutting off the votes of the INC!” Maliwal posted on social media platform X.
“Leave everything aside, a candidate was fielded who could defeat even Vinesh Phogat. Why has the situation reached such a stage that you can no longer save your funds in your home state? There is still time, give up your ego, remove the veil from your blurred eyes, stop doing drama and work for the people,” she said.
Maliwal has been embroiled in a bitter dispute with the AAP since May when she accused Bibhav Kumar, an aide to then Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal, of assaulting her at the CM’s residence.
Kumar, arrested soon after Maliwal filed an FIR, was granted bail by the Supreme Court last month.
Performance of AAP in Haryana elections
According to the Election Commission, AAP is not leading in any seat and has secured a vote share of 1.64 percent in Haryana, Kejriwal’s home state. The BJP leads with 49 seats and is all set to retain the state for a third consecutive term. The Congress is ahead with 35 seats, while the Independents are leading on four seats, while INLD and BSP have one seat each.
AAP contested the elections independently after pre-election alliance negotiations with Congress collapsed. During the campaign, Kejriwal predicted that no government would be formed without AAP’s support.
“AAP will get so many seats… I calculated it after I arrived here. We will get so many seats that the next government in Haryana cannot be formed without the support of AAP,” he had said.
First publication: Oct 8, 2024 | 4:50 PM IST