In a fresh political flashpoint in the national capital, Delhi&rsquo;s Lieutenant Governor (LG) Vinai Kumar Saxena has sanctioned a probe into Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal&rsquo;s explosive allegations that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempted to poach AAP candidates ahead of the upcoming Delhi Assembly election results. Acting swiftly on the LG&rsquo;s directive, a team of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials arrived at Kejriwal&rsquo;s Civil Lines residence to question him on Thursday.
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The controversy erupted after Kejriwal accused the BJP of offering lucrative incentives&mdash;ministerial berths and a staggering ₹15 crore each&mdash;to 16 AAP candidates in a bid to engineer defections. The BJP has vehemently denied the charges, calling them a desperate attempt by AAP to malign its image ahead of the crucial election results, slated for February 8.
Political Firestorm Intensifies
The investigation was triggered by a formal complaint from Delhi BJP General Secretary Vishnu Mittal, who dismissed AAP&rsquo;s claims as &ldquo;false, baseless, and a deliberate ploy to incite unrest in Delhi.&rdquo; Mittal further asserted that Kejriwal&rsquo;s allegations were part of a broader strategy to shift public focus amid the election battle.
Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva took a more aggressive stance, accusing AAP leaders, including Kejriwal and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh, of losing their &ldquo;mental balance.&rdquo; He warned that if AAP failed to substantiate its claims, its leaders would face legal consequences.
&ldquo;Delhi BJP will file a complaint with the Anti-Corruption Bureau against these baseless accusations. If AAP leaders do not provide evidence, they will have to face legal action. Atishi is already out on bail in a similar case. Kejriwal had to apologize to our leaders before; now, it's time for his colleagues to do the same,&rdquo; Sachdeva said, reaffirming the BJP&rsquo;s confidence in forming a &lsquo;double-engine government&rsquo; in Delhi.
AAP Stands Firm Amid Pressure
Despite the mounting backlash, AAP has doubled down on its claims, stating that it will formally lodge a complaint with the ACB. Senior leaders, including Sanjay Singh, have echoed Kejriwal&rsquo;s allegations, insisting that the BJP&rsquo;s alleged poaching attempts are a threat to democratic principles.
With the high-stakes Delhi election results just days away, the political landscape remains charged. The BJP is positioning itself as the alternative to AAP&rsquo;s governance, while Kejriwal&rsquo;s party is portraying itself as the victim of political subversion. The outcome of the ACB probe could have significant ramifications for the capital&rsquo;s political future, with both sides gearing up for an intense battle in the coming days.
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Delhi's former Chief Minister and AAP Leader Arvind Kejriwal (file photo)

ACB officials visit Kejriwal’s residence amid allegations of BJP attempting to poach AAP MLAs

Delhi LG Orders Probe into Kejriwal’s BJP Poaching Claim

ACB officials visit Kejriwal’s residence amid allegations of BJP attempting to poach AAP MLAs

February 7, 2025 | 15:32 IST