Delhi Minister Atishi Gets EC Notice Over Claim That BJP Approached Her To Join The Party

The Election Commission (EC) on Friday (5 April) sent a notice to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Delhi minister Atishi over her claim that the BJP had threatened her with arrest if she didn't switch sides.

The poll panel has sought a response from Atishi on her claim by Monday (8 April).

The EC said that it received a complaint dated 4 April 2024 from the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that Atishi made "misleading and unverified statements" against the party.

Atishi on Tuesday (2 April) claimed that BJP approached her through "someone very close" and asked her to join the party.

"The BJP has approached me through someone very close. They have asked me to join the BJP and said this will save my political career. They have threatened that if I don't switch over, ED (Enforcement Directorate) will arrest me within a month," she had claimed.

The EC said since Atishi is a minister and leader of a national party, voters tend to believe what she says in public, and if contested she must be able to back her remarks on a factual basis.

The panel said that it is expected that there must be a factual foundation to the claim made by Atishi.

"You are hereby called upon to furnish your para wise response to the matter latest by 12.00 Noon of 8 April, 2024 (Monday)," said the EC.

The claim by Atishi had prompted a defamation notice from the BJP camp and a demand for a public apology.

Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said she didn't provide evidence of who approached her, how, and when.

"The AAP is undergoing a crisis in Delhi, which is why they are making such baseless allegations out of frustration. But we will not let her get away with this," he had said.

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