AAP Accuses Delhi Minister Ashish Sood of Mocking Leaders Living in ‘Kachchi’ Colonies, BJP Calls It False Narrative
NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday accused Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood of mocking its leaders who live in ‘kachchi’ or unauthorised colonies, triggering a sharp political exchange with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which dismissed the charge as a fabricated narrative driven by political frustration.
Addressing a press conference, AAP’s Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that Minister Ashish Sood had shown contempt towards elected representatives who continue to live among the urban poor despite holding public office. He said AAP leaders take pride in their roots and their continued association with underprivileged communities.
“We take great pride in the fact that even after being an MLA from Burari four times, Sanjeev Jha still lives on rent in a kachchi colony. Similarly, our colleague Kuldeep Kumar lives in a kachchi colony in Kalyanpuri. These leaders have worked extensively for the people living in such colonies,” Mr. Bharadwaj said.
He alleged that comments made by Mr. Sood amounted to mocking poverty and the backgrounds of AAP leaders who emerged from ordinary households under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal. According to Bharadwaj, the BJP is uncomfortable with the political rise of leaders who do not come from elite or privileged backgrounds.
“Just a day ago, BJP’s Ashish Sood mocked these people and their poverty. I feel deeply ashamed that such a person has been made a minister. He is filled with hatred towards people’s backgrounds,” Bharadwaj said, adding that such remarks reflect a deeper disregard for the struggles of Delhi’s urban poor.
He warned that Delhi’s voters would respond politically to what he described as contempt for residents of unauthorised colonies. “The people of Delhi will not tolerate this insult. They will respond in their own way,” he said.
BJP Rejects Allegations, Accuses AAP of Political Frustration
The BJP swiftly rejected AAP’s allegations, calling them baseless and politically motivated. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the accusations were part of a daily pattern of false narratives being pushed by AAP leaders after facing electoral setbacks.
“It is unfortunate that even after Delhi voters have rejected AAP, its leaders have not learned any lesson and continue to concoct false narratives every day,” Mr. Sachdeva said in a statement.
He pointed out that the BJP recently won seven out of 12 seats in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi by-elections, suggesting that the results reflected growing public confidence in the party’s governance. According to him, AAP’s criticism stems from frustration over its declining political influence in the capital.
“Today, Saurabh Bharadwaj has levelled fabricated allegations against Delhi Minister Ashish Sood that are far removed from facts. If AAP continues this behaviour, the people of Delhi will completely reject them in the upcoming elections as well,” Sachdeva said.
‘Kachchi’ Colonies and Political Messaging
Mr. Sachdeva further asserted that residents of kachchi colonies form a strong voter base for the BJP, directly countering AAP’s narrative of representing the urban poor. “It is for this reason that AAP leaders are frustrated. The people living in unauthorised colonies know who truly works for them,” he said.
Kachchi colonies remain a politically sensitive issue in Delhi, housing lakhs of residents who often lack formal land ownership but form a crucial voting bloc. Both AAP and BJP have historically competed to project themselves as champions of these communities through regularisation promises, welfare schemes, and civic infrastructure development.
The latest exchange reflects a broader battle over political legitimacy and grassroots representation, as both parties seek to position themselves ahead of future electoral contests in Delhi.
Our Final Thoughts
The controversy underscores how deeply questions of class, background, and representation resonate in Delhi’s political landscape. While AAP continues to frame itself as a party rooted in ordinary households, the BJP is countering by asserting its own connect with kachchi colony voters. As elections approach, such narratives are likely to intensify, with both sides using identity and lived experience as political currency. Whether voters see this as genuine advocacy or political posturing will ultimately shape the next chapter of Delhi politics.
