Delhi Elections : BJP Takes Dip with Kejriwal’s Poster Amid Yamuna Pollution Debate
In an eye-catching political stunt, BJP’s candidate for the New Delhi assembly constituency, Parvesh Verma, took a boat ride on the Yamuna River on early Saturday, accompanied by party members. He brought along a life-size cut-out of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The poster depicted Kejriwal in a gesture of shame, with a slogan admitting his failure to clean the Yamuna by 2025, urging voters not to support him.
Verma didn’t just display the poster; he repeatedly submerged it in the river to emphasize the point, capturing media attention. His message was clear: “Cleaning the Yamuna isn’t rocket science,” he stated, proposing solutions like removing silt with machines and constructing treatment plants, drawing a parallel with the Sabarmati Riverfront project initiated by PM Modi.
The Yamuna River’s pollution has been a long-standing issue in Delhi, becoming a focal point in the current assembly elections. The AAP, led by Kejriwal, had promised to purify the river by 2025, a promise now used against them by the BJP. This environmental concern touches the lives of many Delhiites, making it a significant election topic.
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The political discourse around the Yamuna has also seen involvement from other parties. Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav defended Kejriwal, challenging BJP’s Yogi Adityanath’s critique by questioning his commitment to the river’s health. Meanwhile, Congress candidate Alka Lamba criticized both BJP and AAP for using the river’s plight for political gain, promising that Congress would focus on actual solutions if elected.
As Delhi gears up for its assembly elections on February 5, with vote counting set for February 8, the Yamuna’s condition remains a litmus test for the political parties’ environmental commitments. With 699 candidates in the fray for 70 seats, the clean-up of the Yamuna is not just an environmental issue but a pivotal election promise, shaping voter sentiment in the national capital.
