New Delhi, Jan 12 (Representative) Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate from the Kalkaji Assembly constituency Atishi on Sunday launched a crowdfunding campaign to contest the coming assembly elections in the national capital. Appealing to the citizens of Delhi and the nation to fund AAP, Atish asserted, “It’s easy for a Chief Minister to gather funds through unethical means, but AAP doesn’t believe in such practices.” Addressing a press conference, Atishi alleged, “If we (AAP) had taken money from those building flyovers, they would develop cracks in just a few months. If we had accepted funds from private schools and hospitals, we wouldn’t have been able to fix government schools and hospitals or provide free healthcare to Delhiites. Accusing the opposition of corruption, Atishi remarked, “Unlike other parties that accept funds from big industrialists and businessmen to finance their elections and then prioritize their interests, AAP has always depended on public support.”
“I need Rs. 40 lakh to contest this election. I appeal to people across the country to support me,” CM Atishi said, urging to citizens of Delhi and the nation to contribute via the link atishi.aamaadmiparty.org, using debit cards, credit cards, or UPI. Contributions could range from Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,000 or more, depending on individuals’ capacities. “Today, one of the biggest problems with our democracy and political system is that parties and candidates rely on funding from big industrialists and contractors. When these parties come to power, they not only indulge in corruption but also spend all their time awarding contracts to these industrialists. As a result, these governments serve the interests of their donors rather than the public,” she alleged. Pointing out how simple it is for a CM to amass Rs. 40 lakh unethically, as it constitutes just 0.0005% of Delhi’s Rs. 77,000 crore budget, Atishi highlighted the success of various projects, including the Rs. 350 crore Anand Vihar Flyover and Rs. 312 crore Punjabi Bagh Flyover, stressing that these achievements wouldn’t have been possible if the party indulged in corruption.
Atishi criticized BJP, accusing the party of leveraging power for financial gains and vice versa. “Unlike BJP, which relies on industrialist friends for funding, AAP leaders run their households with their salaries and remain committed to honest governance,” Atish said. “Even after 10 years in power, we have not earned a single rupee through corruption. By relying on public support, we demonstrate our commitment to honest politics,” she added. AAP leader Reena Gupta praised Atishi, describing her as “Delhi’s daughter” with an inspiring educational and professional background. “Atishi could have taken a lucrative job abroad but chose to dedicate her life to India’s progress. Her integrity, dedication, and hard work make her an exceptional leader,” Gupta tweeted. She further urged people to support Atishi’s campaign, calling her an example of the kind of educated, honest leaders the country needs.