On Monday, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal announced that his party had distributed spy cameras and body cameras in slum areas to document “wrongdoings” and “electoral malpractices” allegedly committed by the BJP and its supporters.
The significance of video content was even highlighted by PM Narendra Modi in a speech, where he urged party workers to share videos of flats provided by the Central government to slum dwellers in Ashok Vihar. He encouraged them to use these videos to assure other slum residents that they too could receive similar housing.
BJP also circulated modified film clips with dubbed voices resembling those of Kejriwal and Atishi. A notable example on the party’s social media channels features a scene from Jolly LLB, where Akshay Kumar’s character, a barrister, interrogates someone. The dialogue centres on questions about why money was given to pujaris and granthis, to which the man responds, “For votes”.
AAP also used old videos of the party’s candidate from Kalkaji, Ramesh Bidhuri, and New Delhi candidate Parvesh Verma, where they engaged in rash behaviour or gave controversial statements to show them in a bad light. The party also released videos alleging that BJP functionaries engaged in poll code violations and attempted to attack AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal.As tit for tat, the BJP also released a series of old videos featuring past speeches by Delhi former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and other AAP leaders, accusing them of questioning the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya.Videos circulating during the Delhi Assembly elections featured Arvind Kejriwal advocating for IITs over temples, along with clips of AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Manish Sisodia allegedly supporting the Shaheen Bagh protests and making controversial remarks about Hindu deities.
BJP leaders seized upon these videos, claiming they revealed AAP’s “anti-Hindu” stance. Press briefings also showcased sting operations and leaked footage to reinforce these allegations.
As the election entered its final phase, both BJP and AAP released videos accusing each other of unethical poll practices. BJP aired a sting operation targeting an AAP functionary, alleging he accepted money in exchange for introducing robotics kits in Delhi government schools.
In response, AAP shared videos from its official handle accusing BJP of distributing shawls and cash in the Rajiv Gandhi Camp of Rajendra Nagar Assembly. The videos further claimed that residents rejected these alleged bribes by setting BJP’s shawls on fire.
