Paromita Das
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 27th Jan. Political Accusations Amid Delhi’s Poll Preparations
As Delhi gears up for its Assembly elections on February 5, 2025, a political spat has erupted over the deployment of Gujarat police personnel for poll duty. Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal questioned the move, alleging bias, but his claims were swiftly debunked by Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi and other BJP leaders. This incident has not only highlighted Kejriwal’s combative rhetoric but also underscored the standard election security protocols enforced by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Fact-Checking Kejriwal’s Claims
On January 25, Kejriwal posted on X (formerly Twitter) questioning the deployment of Gujarat police forces in Delhi. He claimed the removal of Punjab Police personnel from his security detail and their replacement with Gujarat police units was politically motivated.
गुजरात पुलिस का ये आदेश पढ़िये। दिल्ली से चुनाव आयोग ने पंजाब पुलिस हटाकर गुजरात पुलिस तैनात कर दी है। ये चल क्या रहा है? pic.twitter.com/Q6c9WwuSaL
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 25, 2025
Responding to these allegations, Gujarat Home Minister Harsh Sanghavi stated that Kejriwal’s comments displayed a lack of understanding of ECI norms. Sanghavi clarified that the deployment of State Armed Police Forces (SAPF) from Gujarat, along with those from 11 other states, was a routine procedure initiated by the ECI to ensure free and fair elections.
Sanghavi revealed that the ECI had requested additional police forces from various states, including Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Jharkhand. He shared official documents to substantiate this claim, which indicated that a total of 65 companies from multiple states were being deployed alongside Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
मुझे अब समझ आया कि लोग आपको झांसेबाज क्यो कहते है!!
Kejriwal ji as a former Chief Minister, I'm surprised you're not aware of the Election Commission's norms.
They've requested forces from various states, not just Gujarat. In fact, the Election Commission of India has ordered… https://t.co/2hLvhwYuF6 pic.twitter.com/cvdsVqvUHp
— Harsh Sanghavi (@sanghaviharsh) January 25, 2025
Security Deployment Protocols in Poll-Bound States
The Election Commission routinely mobilizes police forces from multiple states to ensure impartial security during elections. This practice is aimed at preventing local bias and maintaining law and order. For the Delhi Assembly elections, approximately 14,500 personnel have been deployed from various state police units and central forces.
Gujarat contributed eight companies, just as other states like Bihar, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra contributed between five to ten companies each. This balanced distribution of security personnel reflects the ECI’s commitment to neutrality.
Punjab Police Controversy
Another element of this controversy involved the Punjab Police, which claimed its personnel were withdrawn from Kejriwal’s security detail due to ECI instructions. However, Delhi Police refuted these claims, stating that Kejriwal continues to enjoy Z+ security with 63 personnel assigned to his protection. The Punjab Police later acknowledged that only an additional security component had been withdrawn in compliance with election guidelines.
Kejriwal’s Political Rhetoric Backfires
Kejriwal’s attempt to politicize the routine deployment of security forces was met with strong rebuttals from BJP leaders. Gujarat Home Minister Sanghavi accused Kejriwal of spreading misinformation, while BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya pointed out that forces from 12 states and union territories had been deployed. Malviya also highlighted that Punjab Police’s removal from Kejriwal’s security had no connection to Gujarat police deployment.
Is this your first election or are you nervous about losing the election?
It is standard practice to deploy state police forces alongside CAPF for election duties. Even for Delhi elections, police forces from 12 states and union territories, including Karnataka, Himachal… https://t.co/2fejlTVcWj pic.twitter.com/B14XMTb4OW
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 25, 2025
In a post responding to Kejriwal, Poonawalla urged him to “stop lying” and shared documents that confirmed police personnel had been deployed from multiple states, not just Gujarat.
झूठ बोलना बंद कर! https://t.co/S7ZMsRqu7a pic.twitter.com/n55OA6Lab9
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) January 25, 2025
Misdirection or Genuine Concern?
Kejriwal’s accusations seem more like an attempt to stir controversy rather than a genuine concern about election security. His narrative of selective deployment falls apart under scrutiny, as documents reveal the uniform and neutral approach adopted by the Election Commission. By framing the issue as a Gujarat-versus-Delhi matter, Kejriwal risks alienating voters who expect informed and transparent leadership during elections.
Conclusion: A Focus on Free and Fair Elections
The deployment of Gujarat police forces for the Delhi Assembly elections is a standard election protocol designed to ensure impartiality. The controversy stirred by Kejriwal highlights the politicization of administrative decisions, often to gain electoral mileage. As Delhi heads into elections, the focus should remain on ensuring a peaceful and unbiased voting process, guided by the established norms of the Election Commission. Voters deserve an election free from misinformation and political theatrics, centered instead on substantive policy debates and governance.
The post Kejriwal’s Claims on Gujarat Police Deployment Debunked: A Look into Election Security Protocolsa appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
