Delhi Assembly polls: With token number 45, Arvind Kejriwal lines up to file nomination on last day; CM’s filing of papers delayed

New Delhi: Holding token number 45, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was seen waiting to file his nomination for the New Delhi Assembly seat on Tuesday on the last day for filing nominations. "Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers,” Kejriwal tweeted.

Waiting to file my nomination. My token no is 45. There are many people here to file nomination papers. Am so glad so many people participating in democracy.

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 21, 2020

Party leaders claimed that 35 candidates were insisting that they will not allow the chief minister to file unless their nominations are filed and saw a "conspiracy". According to procedures, while nominations can be filed till 3 pm, candidates who have collected tokens to file their papers before the stipulated time are allowed to do so whenever their numbers arrive.

Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said no matter how much the BJP conspires they will not be able to stop Kejriwal from filing his nomination. "BJP, no matter how much you conspire, you will not be able to stop Kejriwal from filing his nomination or from becoming the chief minister for the third time.

"Your conspiracies will not yield any result," he said, tagging AAP MLA Saurabh Bharadwaj's tweet who alleged that around 35 candidates were sitting at the office along with the chief minister without proper nomination papers or even 10 proposers.

बीजेपी ने @ArvindKejriwal से पहले आज 45 उम्मीदवार पर्चे भरने के लिए लाइन में लगा दिए हैं. चुनाव आयोग जानबूझकर हर उम्मीदवार को आधा या एक घंटा दिए जा रहा है, जिसके काग़ज़ पूरे नही है उसे भी, जिसके प्रस्तावक नही है उनको भी, ताकि @ArvindKejriwal को पर्चा भरने से रोका जा सके. https://t.co/obLA4RpekV

— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) January 21, 2020

Responding to Bhardwaj's tweet, Kejriwal said it does not matter as many of them are filing their nominations for the first time.

"Doesn't matter. Many of them are filing for the first time. They are bound to make mistakes. We also made mistakes the first time. We should hand hold them. I am enjoying waiting with them. They are all part of my family," Kejriwal said in a tweet.

Delhi goes to polls on 8 February and counting will take place on 11 February. BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav against Kejriwal while Congress has fielded Romesh Sabharwal.

January 21, 2020 at 06:34PM