Uninterrupted Power, 300 Units Free: Kejriwal's Poll Promise Ahead of Goa Polls

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said that the promises were a solemn guarantee by the party to the people of Goa.

File image of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

(Photo: PTI)

Launching a string of poll promises ahead of the 2022 state Assembly elections, Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday announced free non-commercial electricity to the tune of 300 units, 24-hour power supply, and free electricity for farmers if the party comes to power in Goa.

Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Kejriwal who arrived in Goa on Tuesday also said that the promises were not a "chunavi jumla", but a solemn guarantee by the party to the people of Goa.

"Each family will get 300 units electricity free of cost per month. The bill will come to your home... 87 percent of Goa will start getting a zero electricity bill. This is my guarantee," Kejriwal said, adding that all outstanding bills will be waived off and the power billing system will start off with a "clean slate".

"We have done this in Delhi. These aren't empty promises," Kejriwal said. The Delhi Chief Minister also said that Goa would receive 24 hours electricity supply without any power cut.

"Before we came to power in Delhi, there would be 7-8 hours of power cut in the summer. There are problems in Goa's distribution network, just like there were in Delhi. We changed the transformers and cables. It took two and a half year, but today, we get 24-hour electricity," he said, while also announcing free electricity for farmers.

The Delhi CM said that the move would ensure that women of the state –who hold household purse-strings – would be happy because more money would be saved.

Kejriwal also said that Goa's politics was plagued by corruption and defection and said his party wanted to change the culture of politics in the state on its head.

"Goa wants change. Goa wants clean politics," the AAP national convenor said.

"Goa's weather is beautiful. But your politics is very corrupt. Two years ago, on July 10 (2019), 10 Congress MLAs switched over to the BJP. The people had given the mandate to the Congress but the government was formed by the BJP," Kejriwal said.

"The party (BJP) that was given 13 MLAs, has 28 today. The party (Congress), which had 17 MLAs, now has five. So, why have elections at all? Elections become a farce. There is no meaning to elections. This is cheating. It is not right," he also said.