‘Aam aadmi’ Kejriwal files nomination for Delhi polls after 6-hour wait

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday (January 21) played the role of an aam aadmi (common man) and chose to wait for over six hours to file his nomination for the upcoming assembly elections in Delhi. Tuesday was the last day for filing nominations for the February 8 polls.

Kejriwal was stuck in queue with token number 45 for filing his nominations for the New Delhi constituency on Tuesday. “Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers. Am so glad so many people participating in democracy (sic),” he said in a tweet.

Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers. Am so glad so many people participating in democracy.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020

Party leaders claimed 35 candidates with incomplete papers were insisting they will not allow Kejriwal to file unless their nominations are filed and saw a “conspiracy”. According to procedures, while nominations can be filed till 3 pm, candidates who have collected tokens to file their papers before the stipulated time are allowed to do so whenever their numbers arrive.

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Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said no matter how much the BJP conspires they will not be able to stop Kejriwal from filing his nomination. “BJP, no matter how much you conspire, you will not be able to stop Kejriwal from filing his nomination or from becoming the chief minister for the third time,” he said.

बीजेपी वालो! चाहे जितनी साज़िश कर लो! @ArvindKejriwal को न नोमिनेशन भरने से रोक पाओगे और न ही तीसरी बार दिल्ली का मुख्यमंत्री बनने से…
तुम्हारी साज़िशें कामयाब नही होंगी. https://t.co/ROd6Ra1sy9

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 21, 2020

“Your conspiracies will not yield any result,” he said, tagging AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj’s tweet who alleged that around 35 candidates were sitting at the office along with the chief minister without proper nomination papers or even 10 proposers.

“They (candidates) are insisting unless their papers are complete and they file their nominations, they won’t allow CM to file nomination,” Bharadwaj said. Responding to Bhardwaj’s tweet, Kejriwal said it does not matter as many of them are filing their nominations for the first time.

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“Doesn’t matter. Many of them are filing for the first time. They are bound to make mistakes. We also made mistakes the first time. We should hand hold them. I am enjoying waiting with them. They are all part of my family,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Doesn’t matter. Many of them r filing for the first time. They r bound to make mistakes. We also made mistakes the first time. We shud hand hold them. I am enjoying waiting wid them. They r all part of my family. https://t.co/9s8hRDnjSU

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020

Delhi goes to polls on February 8 and counting will take place on February 11. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against Kejriwal while Congress has fielded Romesh Sabharwal.

(With inputs from agencies)