Kejriwals Bold Claim: ED, PMLA Section 45 Key to BJPs Opposition Influx

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal stirred the pot by suggesting that if the ED were halted and section 45 of the PMLA were eliminated, prominent BJP figures like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje might establish their own political parties.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a bold statement on Sunday, claiming that if the Enforcement Directorate (ED) were stopped and section 45 of the Prevention of Money-Laundering Act (PMLA) were abolished, several leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would leave the party, and prominent figures like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje might even form their own political outfits.

BJP Leaders Overlooked for Chief Minister Posts

Chouhan and Raje were notably overlooked by the BJP for the chief minister positions in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, respectively, despite their contributions to the party's electoral success in recent assembly polls. Kejriwal, accompanied by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, addressed the issue of opposition leaders joining the BJP and asserted that if the ED were stopped and section 45 of the PMLA were abolished, half of the BJP leaders would quit the party.

ED and PMLA Section 45 as Factors in Party Switching

Kejriwal emphasized the role of the ED as the primary agency responsible for leaders joining the BJP. He suggested that removing section 45 of the PMLA would eliminate the incentive for leaders to switch parties, and individuals like Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Vasundhara Raje might even form their own parties.

AAP and Congress Discussions on Electoral Alliances

During a lunch hosted by Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi, Kejriwal also touched upon the topic of electoral alliances between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress. Sources revealed that Kejriwal had mentioned a mutual agreement between AAP and the Congress to contest the polls separately in Punjab. However, he also indicated that discussions were ongoing regarding a potential alliance in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls, and a decision would be made soon.

Punjab Alliance and Seat-Sharing Issues

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had previously declared that his party would not form an alliance with the Congress in the state for the Lok Sabha elections, expressing confidence in AAP's ability to win all 13 seats. Meanwhile, AAP and the Congress, both part of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), have faced disagreements over seat-sharing in Delhi, with AAP offering only one seat to the Congress.

Kejriwal's statements highlight the complex dynamics of Indian politics, where the ED and PMLA have become significant factors influencing party affiliations. The upcoming Lok Sabha polls will undoubtedly be shaped by these alliances and strategies, as parties vie for electoral success.