Chandigarh: AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal’s recent statement in Ludhiana is a blatant attempt to intimidate voters and subvert the democratic process. By urging people to vote for the AAP candidate in the Ludhiana West by-election, warning that only those who support AAP will have their work done, Kejriwal has crossed a dangerous line threatening voters into submission rather than appealing to them on merit.
This coercive tactic mirrors the BJP’s strategy in Delhi, where voters were pressured to support the ruling party at the Centre under the pretext of securing government benefits. Kejriwal, who once positioned himself as an opponent of BJP’s authoritarianism, is now adopting the same undemocratic methods, proving that AAP has embraced the politics of fear and intimidation.
Such statements not only violate the spirit of free and fair elections but also set a dangerous precedent for democracy in Punjab. Elections must be fought on policies, performance, and vision not through threats and coercion. Kejriwal’s remarks amount to an abuse of power and an attempt to manipulate voters, undermining the electoral process in Ludhiana West.
We urge the Election Commission to take immediate notice of this blatant violation of electoral ethics and ensure that voters in Ludhiana West can exercise their franchise freely, without fear or pressure from those in power. Punjab’s democratic integrity must be protected at all costs.