Arvind Kejriwal Claims Victory in Delhi’s Water Crisis, Hits Back at Election Commission Notice

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday declared a major victory in the fight against the supply of polluted water to the national capital, asserting that relentless public pressure had forced authorities to act. In a strongly worded statement, Kejriwal claimed that the ammonia levels in Delhi’s water supply had dropped significantly—from a dangerously high 7 ppm to 2 ppm—averting what he described as a major water crisis for half of Delhi’s population.

Kejriwal, in a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), congratulated Delhi’s residents for their collective struggle, suggesting that their efforts had prevented a catastrophe.

“Congratulations to the people of Delhi! Our struggle has borne fruit. The toxic water being sent to Delhi has now been stopped. The ammonia level in the incoming water has dropped from 7 ppm to 2 ppm. If we had not raised our voices and fought, half of Delhi’s population would have been left without water. We have saved Delhi from a major water crisis.”

For weeks, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused neighboring Haryana of deliberately supplying contaminated and ammonia-laden water to Delhi, causing severe disruptions in the city’s drinking water supply. Kejriwal’s government has consistently blamed the BJP-led Haryana administration for failing to ensure clean water for the national capital, turning it into a major electoral issue ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The Delhi government had earlier warned that the spike in ammonia levels posed a serious health hazard, as it forced water treatment plants to shut down, leading to water shortages in several parts of the city. The issue escalated into a political flashpoint, with AAP leaders alleging a “deliberate conspiracy” to create water scarcity in Delhi.

However, with ammonia levels now reportedly dropping, Kejriwal has credited public activism and his party’s persistent fight for the reversal.

In a separate development, Kejriwal also lashed out at the Election Commission of India (ECI) for issuing him a notice, accusing the poll body of attempting to intimidate him. While the exact details of the notice are yet to be made public, Kejriwal suggested that the ECI was acting under pressure and trying to penalize him.

“The Election Commission has given me a notice, threatening to punish me. Here is my response to them,” Kejriwal wrote in his post.

The Delhi Chief Minister’s defiant tone indicates that he is unlikely to back down, setting the stage for a fresh confrontation between AAP and the election watchdog.

Kejriwal’s claim of victory over the water crisis and his challenge to the Election Commission are likely to further intensify political tensions between AAP and the BJP. The BJP, which has been targeting the Delhi government over governance issues, has dismissed Kejriwal’s allegations as “drama” and “political posturing” ahead of elections.

While Kejriwal has positioned himself as a crusader for Delhi’s residents, his critics argue that AAP is using the water crisis as a diversionary tactic to shift focus from governance failures.

What Next?

With elections approaching, the water crisis and the ECI notice could become key battlegrounds for AAP and BJP. Kejriwal’s aggressive stance suggests that he will continue to frame the crisis as a fight for Delhi’s rights against BJP-led authorities, while the BJP is expected to counter by accusing AAP of mismanagement.