PM launches Delhi election campaign with development initiatives

New Delhi, Jan 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi started his campaign for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections by laying the foundation stone for several key projects and inaugurating new infrastructure.

PM Modi's speech in Delhi focused on development and promises for the future, the stage is set for a high-stakes electoral battle in the national capital. With elections around the corner, his message was clear—Delhi needs a new direction, and the BJP is ready to lead the way.

The high-profile event on Friday was held amidst the buzz of impending election announcements, that set the tone for a politically charged campaign aimed at highlighting the BJP’s development agenda while taking sharp jabs at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

The main attraction of the event was the inauguration of 1,675 flats for the economically weaker sections (EWS) at Swabhiman Apartments in Ashok Vihar. These newly constructed homes are part of the Central Government’s vision to provide every citizen with a permanent and dignified living space. The Prime Minister recalled the Kalkaji Extension project, where over 3000 homes had previously been handed over to jhuggi dwellers.

“This is just the beginning,” PM Modi declared. “We have made dreams come true for millions who lived in slums for generations. Swabhiman Apartments are more than homes; they are symbols of dignity, self-respect, and empowerment. Our goal is simple—every citizen of Delhi deserves a pucca house.”

He further announced that an additional 3,000 houses would soon be completed, and thousands more were planned for the future.

Taking on AAP

PM Modi also turned his focus to education, outlining the BJP government’s efforts to transform Delhi’s educational landscape. He highlighted the new campuses of Delhi University in Surajmal Vihar and Dwarka and a proposed college in Najafgarh named after Veer Savarkar.

“Our government is focused on empowering the youth of Delhi with opportunities,” said PM Modi. “But while we build universities and improve schools, the AAP government has neglected even the most basic educational responsibilities. They could not even spend the funds allocated under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. How can a government that fails to invest in its children’s future claim to care about development?”

The Prime Minister accused AAP of misleading the public with false promises. “Education is not a photo-op or a PR exercise. It is a responsibility. But for the past decade, Delhi has suffered under a regime that thrives on lies and scams,” Modi said.

In his speech, PM Modi launched a scathing attack on AAP, branding the party as a symbol of corruption and inefficiency. “Delhi deserves better. For ten years, the AAP government has turned this city into a playground for scams—whether it’s liquor licenses, school infrastructure, pollution control, or healthcare,” he said.

He accused AAP of prioritising politics over governance, citing the dismal state of the Yamuna River as a glaring example. “AAP leaders claim that cleaning the Yamuna won’t get them votes. This is their excuse for inaction!” PM Modi exclaimed. “Their negligence has left the people of Delhi with dirty water and a worsening health crisis.”

The Prime Minister also highlighted AAP’s alleged links to the tanker mafia, asserting that the party’s mismanagement had forced Delhiites to depend on private water suppliers. “This AAP-da (disaster) has hijacked the lives of ordinary citizens. Delhi deserves clean water, clean air, and clean governance—not excuses and scandals,” he said.

Outlining the BJP’s vision for Delhi, PM Modi promised to accelerate the implementation of Central Government schemes like the PM Suryaghar Muft Bijli Yojana, which aims to transform households into electricity producers through solar panels. “Families can earn from electricity generation, and we will ensure this becomes a reality for every home in Delhi as soon as the BJP forms the government here,” he pledged.

He also emphasised the benefits of schemes like Ayushman Bharat, which AAP has resisted implementing in Delhi. “This isn’t just arrogance—it’s cruelty. By denying Ayushman Bharat to the people of Delhi, AAP has shown that their ego is bigger than the well-being of our elderly and sick,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister concluded with a rallying call to Delhi’s voters. “The time has come to free Delhi from the clutches of corruption and mismanagement. AAP promised a revolution but delivered a disaster. Their arrogance has betrayed the hopes of the Delhiites. This election is not just about changing a government—it’s about reclaiming Delhi’s dignity,” he declared.

Urging citizens to vote for the BJP, he said, “We will not tolerate AAP-da anymore. Together, we will bring good governance, accountability, and prosperity back to Delhi.”

Kejriwal Fires Back at PM Modi

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal hit back at Prime Minister Modi on Friday, accusing him of “abusing” the people of Delhi and their democratically elected government.

Kejriwal’s sharp rebuttal came hours after PM Modi launched a scathing critique of AAP during his speech inaugurating development projects in Delhi ahead of the 2025 Assembly elections.

“PM Modi gave a 43-minute speech today. For about 39 minutes, he abused the people of Delhi and their elected government,” Kejriwal said at a press conference. “Had the Modi government delivered on its promises in the last ten years, he wouldn’t need to resort to such attacks. This isn’t just a critique of me—it’s an insult to the people of Delhi who elected this government with an overwhelming mandate.”

Kejriwal also reacted to PM Modi’s comments about the “Sheesh Mahal,” a term the BJP has used to criticise the Delhi Chief Minister’s official residence renovation. “Someone who has built a house worth Rs 2700 crore for himself, flies in planes worth Rs 8400 crore and wears a Rs 10 lakh suit shouldn’t be the one lecturing others about modesty. It doesn’t sound right,” Kejriwal remarked.

The Delhi CM referred to the custom-made “Narendra Damodardas Modi” pinstriped suit, reportedly worth Rs 10 lakh, which had entered the Guinness Book of World Records when it was auctioned for ?4.3 crore in 2016.

“I don’t believe in personal attacks or politics of abuse,” Kejriwal added. “In the last ten years, my government has focused on development. While others talk, we deliver.”

Kejriwal further criticized the BJP for lacking a chief ministerial candidate and an actionable agenda for Delhi. He dismissed the BJP’s claims of housing development as tokenistic, highlighting the gap between promises and delivery.

“There are over 4 lakh jhuggis in Delhi, which means around 15 lakh people need proper housing. And today, the BJP is patting itself on the back for building just 1,700 homes—and that too in five years,” he said.

Recalling PM Modi’s earlier promise to provide housing for all by 2022, Kejriwal accused the BJP of failing to deliver. “At this rate, their next set of houses will be ready by 2030, if at all. But even that is uncertain, given how the BJP has been demolishing jhuggis instead of providing alternatives,” he said.

Kejriwal also mocked the BJP’s election manifesto, calling it a vision for centuries rather than the immediate future. “It seems their Sankalp Patra isn’t meant for five years but for 200 years. They have no real roadmap, just empty promises,” he said.

With the Delhi Assembly elections around the corner, the political battle between AAP and BJP is intensifying. Both parties are ramping up their rhetoric, setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in the national capital.