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Take Money From BJP, Congress, But Vote For AAP, Arvind Kejriwal Tells Delhi Voters

Arvind Kejriwal Asks Delhi Voters To Accept Bribes From BJP, Congress, But Vote For AAP
FILE- In this April 3, 2014 file photograph, India's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or common man party, chief Arvind Kejriwal speaks in New Delhi, India. Anti-corruption campaigner Kejriwal apologized Wednesday, May 21, 2014 for stepping down as New Delhi's top elected official just 49 days into the job, after his spectacular rise in the capital failed to translate into national prominence.(AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal, file)
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FILE- In this April 3, 2014 file photograph, India's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), or common man party, chief Arvind Kejriwal speaks in New Delhi, India. Anti-corruption campaigner Kejriwal apologized Wednesday, May 21, 2014 for stepping down as New Delhi's top elected official just 49 days into the job, after his spectacular rise in the capital failed to translate into national prominence.(AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal, file)

Former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, looking for a second term, stirred up a fresh controversy on Sunday after he appealed to the people to accept money doled out by both the Congress and the BJP but cast their votes in favour of the AAP in the upcoming assembly elections.

"BJP aur Congress dono party ke log aayenge... paisa dene... dono party se paisa le lena... par vote jhaadu par dena (BJP and Congress will both come and give you money. Accept the money from both parties but cast your vote on the broom symbol)," Kejriwal said at a political rally in Uttam Nagar constituency of west Delhi.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief appealed to the people to fool the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress by accepting their money but voting for the AAP. Voting for the 70-member Delhi assembly will take place Feb 7. Results will be declared Feb 10.

The Congress demanded that Kejriwal should seek an apology from the people of Delhi for asking them to accept bribes from political parties. AICC General Secretary Ajay Maken told reporters that the party would seek legal opinion to approach the Election Commission against Kejriwal for "insulting" the people of Delhi.

"Making such statements is illegal. It is like offering money to the people," Maken, who is campaign committee chief of the party in Delhi, said.

The Congress leader said that AAP was much ahead than its rivals in putting up posters and giant hoardings as also round-the-clock advertisements on the FM radio. "This all has happened not through love and respect of AAP but because of the party shelling out lot of money for the purpose", he said, taking a dig at AAP.

"It's election time. When people both from BJP and Congress come offering money, don't refuse, accept... some have looted money from 2G, some from coal (scam). And if any party does not show up go to its office and take the amount saying we were waiting but you didn't come," Kejriwal had said.

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This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.