New Delhi: On Thursday, February 6, several agencies claimed the BJP is set to win over 55 seats after 27 years in the upcoming Assembly Elections in New Delhi.
Following the exit poll results, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal took to X (formerly Twitter) and alleged that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has poached their MLAs to switch parties ahead of the Assembly Election results.
1. What Did AAP Allege?
Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders claimed that the BJP was offering Rs 15 crores to their MLAs to switch parties, ahead of the election results.
Taking to X on February 6, Kejriwal wrote, “In the last two hours, our 16 candidates have received calls saying, ‘Leave AAP and join our party, we’ll make you ministers and give each of you Rs 15-16 crores’.”
“If their party is getting more than 55 seats then what’s the need for them to call our candidates? It’s obvious that these fake surveys have been conducted with the sole purpose of creating an atmosphere to break down some candidates. But our men will not break down,” the AAP leader added in his tweet.
2. BJP Submits Complaint to ACB
In response to AAP’s horse-trading allegations, the BJP filed a complaint with the ACB. As per reports, the party’s Delhi General Secretary Vishnu Mittal called for an immediate investigation into the serious allegations raised by Kejriwal and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh in their letter to the Lieutenant Governor.
(Photo Courtesy: ANI)
In a formal complaint, Mittal has urged for an FIR to be filed and requested the ACB to investigate the issue, pointing out that Kejriwal and Singh have failed to present any proof backing their accusations of an alleged poaching attempt.
3. Lieutenant Governor Offers ACB Probe
Following the BJP’s complaint, Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena recommended an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe into the claims made by Kejriwal.
The LG’s Principal Secretary wrote to the Delhi government’s Chief Secretary to initiate an ACB inquiry into the allegations of bribes being offered to AAP MLAs.
4. ACB Visits Kejriwal’s Residence
After Governor Saxena offered a probe into Kejriwal’s horse-trading claims, the ACB officials arrived at the AAP leader’s Delhi residence on February 7.
Have a look at the video here:
5. ACB Serves Notice to AAP
Shortly after their visit, the ACB served an official notice to Kejriwal, requesting his presence for further investigation into the allegations of bribes being offered to his party MLAs.
(Photo Courtesy: PTI)
6. Kejriwal’s Lawyer Rishikesh Kumar Issues Statement
As per a TOI report, Rishikesh Kumar, Additional Standing Counsel for the Delhi government, criticised ACB’s investigation and said, “Before entering someone’s house for investigation or search, the concerned agency should have a written order. We have been asking for one and a half hours where are the notices, they have no answer.”
He further claimed that ACB officers arrived at Kejriwal’s residence without official documents, calling it a “mockery of the investigation process.”
7. AAP’s Sanjay Singh’s Reacts to ACB’s Visit
Reacting to ACB’s visit, AAP’s Sanjay Singh told PTI, “More than 16 people have been threatened. We have disclosed one phone number. We are going to file a complaint at the ACB office. Why is the ACB creating drama instead of taking action? All details will be revealed during the investigation.”
Have a look at the video here:
8. ‘EC Refused to Upload Form 17C’: Kejriwal
Taking to X on February 7, Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the Election Commission (EC) refused to upload Form 17C and booth-level vote details despite multiple requests.
He added that AAP created a website where all Form 17Cs are available, and they will present the data for every assembly and booth for voter access.
9. EC’s Response to Kejriwal’s Tweet
Responding to Kejriwal’s tweet, the Chief Electoral Office stated that as per Rule 49S of the Conduct of Election Rules 1961, all Presiding Officers provided Form 17C with vote details to polling agents on February 5 and the rule was followed at every polling station during the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025.
Have a look at their tweet here:
10. BJP’s Manoj Tiwari Criticises AAP
As per a TOI report, criticising AAP’s horse-trading allegations, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari said, “The results will be announced tomorrow, and he is saying such things… We are going to form govt with a full majority. Such allegations should have a base… we have lodged a complaint with the ACB, and they are taking action.”
