Gandhinagar, April 3 (AHN) A political confrontation escalated in Gujarat on Friday after the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected allegations made by Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal in a letter to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, terming them an attempt to mislead the public ahead of local body elections.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Gandhinagar, state BJP co-spokesperson and Valsad MP Dhaval Patel said the letter written by “imported leaders from Delhi” was “a failed attempt to spread confusion among the public”.

Kejriwal, in his letter to the Chief Minister, had alleged a crackdown on AAP workers in Gujarat, claiming that more than 160 workers had been arrested and around 145 FIRs registered in recent months.

He sought an appointment with the Chief Minister, stating that he, along with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, wished to discuss what he described as action against party workers ahead of the elections.

Responding to the allegations, Patel said, “As local body elections approach, such letters are being used to create a false narrative. The political drama, theatrics and victim card of this anarchist party will never work in Gujarat.”

He said that between 2025 and 2026, “around 242 accused linked to this party have been booked in Gujarat in 24 serious offences such as attempt to murder, rioting and assault, along with 39 general offences”.

He added that in several cases, offences had also been registered against leaders who had come from outside the state.

“Whether in Delhi, Punjab or Goa, creating political drama during elections has been their history. Getting ink or shoes thrown at themselves to play the victim card has been their old tactic, and in many such cases it later emerges that these acts were carried out by their own workers,” he alleged.

Questioning the opposition’s claims, he said, “Should such offenders be spared by Gujarat Police and the government? Does the rule of law not apply to this party?”

He added, “If any worker of any political party commits a crime, Gujarat Police will not spare them.”

Patel also alleged that leaders of the party had previously attacked BJP offices, violated prohibition laws, and engaged in acts such as throwing footwear at a former state Home Minister.

He further said that a party which had supported activist Medha Patkar would not be accepted by the people of Gujarat.

“The people of Gujarat have trusted BJP’s politics of development and peace for the past 30 years and will continue to do so,” he said, adding that the opposition party would face a “complete wipeout” in the upcoming local body elections, while the BJP would secure a decisive victory.