The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) officially launched its election campaign for the Delhi Assembly polls, scheduled for February 2025, with an event focused on the controversial issue of "revadis" (freebies). The campaign, called Revdi Par Charcha (Discussion on Freebies), was kicked off by AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal, who addressed the gathering and outlined his party's vision for continued welfare policies, particularly aimed at women and vulnerable groups in Delhi.
Kejriwal's speech emphasised the party's commitment to providing free services to residents of Delhi, promising continued support for policies that have made education, healthcare, and other essential services free of cost. At the heart of the campaign is a new promise: women in Delhi will receive a Rs 1,000 monthly allowance, an initiative designed to further consolidate AAP's welfare agenda.
"These 'revadis' are not mere handouts; they are a reflection of our commitment to making Delhi a better place for every citizen. If the BJP comes to power, they will take away these very benefits that Delhiites have come to rely on," Kejriwal warned during his address.
The six revdi promises
As part of its election manifesto, AAP has outlined six major "revdi" promises for Delhi voters:
- Free Electricity – AAP promises continued subsidization of electricity, providing up to 200 units free for domestic consumers each month.
- Free Water – Clean drinking water will remain free for Delhi residents.
- Free Education – Quality education will be provided at no cost in Delhi government schools.
- Free Healthcare – Medical care through Mohalla Clinics and other government hospitals will remain free of charge.
- Free Bus Rides for Women – Women will continue to receive free rides on Delhi’s public bus network.
- Tirth Yatra Yojana for Elderly – Financial assistance for elderly citizens to undertake pilgrimage trips under the government’s Tirth Yatra scheme.
In a move designed to engage with the electorate on the issue, AAP plans to organize 65,000 Revdi Par Charcha meetings across the city. These events will allow local party workers to directly engage with voters and gather feedback on the ongoing welfare programs, asking citizens whether they want the free services to continue.
Earlier, on Thursday, AAP also released its first batch of candidates for the upcoming elections. Despite the Election Commission not yet announcing the schedule, the party unveiled 11 candidates for the 70-member Delhi Assembly, including several high-profile defections from rival parties.
Among the new entrants are former BJP leaders Anil Jha, BB Tyagi, and Brahm Singh Tanwar, who will contest from Kirari, Laxmi Nagar, and Chhatarpur constituencies, respectively. Additionally, former Congress leaders Zubair Choudhary (Seelampur), Somesh Shokeen (Matiala), and Vir Singh Dhingan (Seemapuri) have joined AAP’s fold.
Notably, AAP has also made some strategic changes in its candidate selection, dropping three sitting legislators from its list, a move that signals the party’s evolving approach as it looks ahead to the 2025 polls. The first list includes other notable names like Ram Singh Netaji (Badarpur), Sarita Singh (Rohtas Nagar), Gaurav Sharma (Ghonda), Deepak Singhla (Vishwas Nagar), and Manoj Tyagi (Karawal Nagar).
