Delhi Ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj, along with AAP MLAs, protested at the Delhi Legislative Assembly against the arrest of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, expressing concerns about the impact of the arrest on the party's electoral prospects. Atishi emphasized that the arrest of Kejriwal, who was taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate on March 21 in a money laundering case linked to excise policy, has led to a surge in public sympathy towards the AAP, potentially influencing the outcome of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
During an interview with PTI, Atishi condemned Kejriwal's arrest as a severe blow to democracy, highlighting the unprecedented nature of the situation in the country's democratic history. She mentioned that the arrest has shifted the electoral dynamics, turning the upcoming Lok Sabha elections into a 'People vs BJP' contest, with the public sentiment leaning towards the AAP as a response to what is perceived as an overreach by the BJP. Atishi expressed confidence in the party's strengthened position post-arrest, indicating a shift in the pre-existing expectation of the BJP's victory in the polls.
Kejriwal's arrest has triggered a significant political response, with AAP's national convener being remanded in the Enforcement Directorate's custody until March 28. The ongoing situation has created a new narrative for the upcoming elections, with Atishi characterizing it as a unique 'People vs BJP' election, signifying a shift from the traditional party-centric contest to a broader battle between the public and the ruling party.