Kejriwal claims AAP is broke but EC figures reveal otherwise

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal risks getting labelled as a politician whose claims are high on hype but low on substance. He said in Goa yesterday that his Aam Admi Party (AAP) does not have money to fight election despite running Delhi government for one-and-a-half years.

WHAT KEJRIWAL SAID

Speaking to a group of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes members in South Goa, the AAP convener said, "It would look odd but it is true that despite a one-and-half year of governance in Delhi, AAP does not have money to fight election. I can show you my bank account, even the party does not have money."

The Delhi Chief Minister elaborated his statement by saying that when the AAP contested in Delhi, the people fought the election. Similar should be the situation in Goa where local people will contest the polls because, he claimed, the AAP is a platform for everyone to fight for their better future.

WHAT EC FIGURES SAY

However, contrary to Kejriwal's claims, facts speak otherwise. Going by the Election Commission, the AAP is the fourth largest political party in the country in terms of receiving contributions. In the financial year 2014-15, it received contributions worth Rs 37.45 crore.

Only three parties - and all of them national ones - had received larger contributions than the AAP. The BJP, with 437.35 crore is at the top, followed by the Congress (Rs 141.55 crore) and the NCP (Rs 38.82 crore).

http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/PolPar/ContributionReports2015_National.aspx

The AAP has the distinction of receiving the highest contribution compared with the regional parties, even those who are ruling other states.

For instance, the Samajwadi Party, ruling the country's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, received donations to the tune of Rs 19.50 crore, BJD in Odisha (21.80 crore), Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab (3.01 crore), TRS in Telangana (Rs 8.69 crore), Telugu Desam in Andhra Pradesh (Rs 7.57 crore), TMC in West Bengal (Rs 8.32 crore) and BJP's alliance partner Shiv Sena in Maharashtra (25.58 crore).

http://eci.nic.in/eci_main1/PolPar/ContributionReports2015_State.aspx

No wonder, AAP's rivals - the Congress and the BJP both - have refused to trust Kejriwal.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari told India Today Digital that what the Delhi CM said the most hypocritical claim one can make. "This is the most sanctimonious statement which really undermines the humbug that the AAP is. Till today, these fellows have not disclosed the funds collected by India Against Corruption (IAC)," he said.

The former Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said no sanctity could be attached to Kejriwal's claim till the collections by the IAC are made public. "Till then, it will not reflect the true story of their finances," he added.

KEJRIWAL IS A BUNDLE OF LIES: BJP

The BJP was more hard-hitting in attacking Kejriwal. Party leader Vijay Jolly said, "Kejriwal is always a bundle of lies. What he said (in Goa) is a ploy to collect huge funds and then spend them according to his whims and fancies. He has great penchant for collecting funds. In Delhi, he collected crores and crores. But, what has he done for the capital?" he said.

Jolly charged that the Delhi CM cannot be trusted and his image among the people has got tarnished. He collects massive funds before every election but later claims that he does not have money. He too lashed out at Kejriwal for not disclosing the funds collected by Anna Hazare-led IAC. "His bluff has been called. The people do not feel excited any more about his claims," he said.

With the rival parties gunning for Kejriwal, he will have a tough time convincing the voters, also of Goa, of the lack of funds which the AAP supposedly faces.

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