Tensions Escalate as AAP alleges house arrests of leaders and BJP protests against Arvind Kejriwal, security heightened in Delhi

The Aam Aadmi Party on Friday has alleged that the Delhi assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, deputy mayor Aaley Mohd Iqbal, and several leaders have been put under house arrest ahead of their protest against BJP for alleged fraud in the Chandigarh mayor elections. Security has been beefed up in and around central Delhi, with police blocking various routes to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg. This comes in the light of the BJP's protest against perceived "corruption" in the Kejriwal government, and the simultaneous AAP potests against the Chandigarh mayoral election.

"We used to listen that BJP wins elections by stealing votes, rigging EVMs, but we never got any evidence of it. The Chandigarh Mayoral elections show that their vessel of sins was full to the brim," said Arvind Kejriwal during the AAP protest in Delhi.

In the midst of heightened tensions between AAP and BJP in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced his decision to not attend a fifth summon from the Enforcement Directorate. Kejriwal was summoned for questioning connection to the allegedliquor scam, however, the AAP leder will join the protests against the Chandigarh mayoral election instead. "All across Del, they are detaining elected MLAs, councillors and volunteers who were coming to party office. What is this going on?" posted the Delhi Chief Minister.

"Heavy barricades all across Delhi, buses full of AAP volunteers being detained, hundreds of para-military forces outside the AAP party office - why is the BJP so scared of a protest on the Chandigarh mayor elections?" posted AAP leaser Atishi, taking to social media platform "X".

The BJP has been staging a protest in close proximity to the AAP headquarters against the alleged corruption in the Kejriwal government. At the same time, AAP leaders have staged a demonstration at the BJP headquarters, accusing the party of rigging the recent Chandigarh mayoral polls. In response, BJP supporters chanted slogans against the Delhi CM, calling for his resignation.

Roads leading to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Marg have been shut down since Friday morning, with barricades erected near the BJP and AAP headquarters.