CEC indulging in politics, wants job after retirement, says Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal with Delhi Chief Minister and party leader Atishi, and party leader Sanjay Singh during a press conference, in New Delhi, on January 30, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday (January 30, 2025) alleged that the Election Commission of India was favouring the Bharatiya Janata Party as Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar was eyeing a post-retirement job. He also said if Mr. Kumar wants to indulge in politics, then he should contest in elections.

“I want to tell the EC with full respect, money is being openly distributed in Delhi, but the poll body cannot see it. The EC is playing politics because Mr. Kumar wants a job after his retirement on February 28. I want to tell Mr. Kumar that history will never forgive him. I don’t think anyone has ruined the EC as much as Mr. Kumar,” he said while addressing a press conference.

Mr. Kejriwal said he knew he would be jailed in two days but was “not afraid”. Referring to the EC’s letter on Thursday asking him to provide evidence of Yamuna’s poisoning before 11 a.m. on Friday, Mr. Kejriwal said, “The EC’s should not be using that kind of language. If Mr. Kumar wants to indulge in politics, he should fight from a seat in Delhi,” he added.

The AAP supremo said he will send three bottles of ammonia-contaminated water to the EC and Mr. Kumar. “Let all three Election Commissioners drink this water in a press conference. If they do, we will accept that we were wrong,” he said.

Meanwhile, AAP leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, tried to march to the BJP headquarters to hand over bottles of water with high Ammonia levels to BJP leaders, but were stopped by the Delhi Police.

Also read | Did not violate any laws: Kejriwal responds to Election Commission on Yamuna water row

“We only intend to hand over a bottle of this contaminated water to [Union Home Minister] Amit Shah. If they are stopping us from doing so, they should take the bottle themselves and ensure it reaches him. Our demand is simple — let Mr. Shah and BJP leaders drink this water if they claim it is safe. If this water is not poisonous, then Mr. Shah should drink it. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini should also take a sip,” Mr. Singh said.