आज पूरे परिवार के साथ जाकर मतदान किया। हर दिल्लीवासी की तरक़्क़ी और हर ग़रीब परिवार के सम्मानजनक जीवन के लिए वोट दिया। आप भी अपने परिवार के साथ मतदान करें और दूसरों को भी प्रेरित करें। दिल्ली की तरक़्क़ी रुकनी नहीं चाहिए।
गुंडागर्दी हारेगी, दिल्ली जीतेगी। pic.twitter.com/6eSZnNTXBB
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 5, 2025
In a video he shared on X, Kejriwal urged people to come out and vote, using his parents as the prime exhibit. While civic responsibility is commendable, the entire episode reeked of a last-minute election gimmick aimed at garnering sympathy rather than ensuring smooth voting.
Why Wheelchairs When Home Voting Was Available?
A crucial question arises—why did Kejriwal insist on bringing his parents to the polling booth when a home-voting facility was readily available? The Election Commission allows senior citizens above 85 years of age and persons with disabilities to vote from home, making the process easier for them. Under this system, election officials visit the homes of eligible voters, allowing them to cast their ballots conveniently.
Even former Vice President Hamid Ansari opted for this facility. But Kejriwal, despite publicly stating that his father is 85 and his mother is in poor health, chose to wheel them out under the media’s watchful eye. Why? Because in the high-stakes political battleground of Delhi, where AAP is desperately fighting to secure a third term against the BJP and Congress, a dose of public sympathy is worth its weight in votes.
Kejriwal & His Old Playbook: Parents as Political Shields
This isn’t the first time Kejriwal has used his parents as a shield to deflect political heat. In May last year, during the Swati Maliwal assault case, he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “targeting his parents” when the Delhi Police sought to question them.
Back then, Kejriwal lamented on social media:
“Modi ji, you have done everything to pull me down. You arrested me, harassed me in Tihar, but I didn’t break. Now you’ve crossed the line by targeting my parents. My mother is very ill, and my father is 85 and hard of hearing. Why should they be interrogated?”
This emotional appeal came at a time when Maliwal had accused Kejriwal’s personal secretary of assaulting her at the CM’s residence—while Kejriwal and his family were allegedly present and having breakfast. Instead of addressing the allegations, he conveniently pivoted to his parents being victimized.
Sympathy Politics in a High-Stakes Election
Kejriwal has often positioned himself as the “common man” leader, but this repeated strategy of weaponizing his parents’ frailty raises serious questions. If his message was simply about voting, why turn it into an emotional drama? Why sideline a practical, available home-voting option just to put on a public show?
As Delhiites make their choice, one thing is clear: Kejriwal may have cast his vote, but whether the people will buy into his sympathy-driven political theater remains to be seen.