Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a set of “15 guarantees” on Monday in the lead-up to the February 5 Delhi assembly elections. He emphasised that the AAP government would ensure the continuation of the city’s existing free schemes if re-elected.

The 15 guarantees presented by AAP include providing jobs to the unemployed within five years, a ₹2,100 monthly allowance for women under the Mahila Samman Yojana, free medical care for the elderly in private hospitals through the Sanjeevani Yojana, waivers for inflated water bills and 24x7 water supply for all households.

Additional promises include cleaning the Yamuna River, upgrading Delhi’s roads to European standards, scholarships for Dalit students, free bus rides for male students, a monthly allowance of ₹18,000 for Hindu and Sikh priests, extending free water and electricity benefits to tenants, revamping the sewer system, issuing ration cards to those in need and providing funds to resident welfare associations (RWAs) for hiring private security.

Kejriwal acknowledged that three guarantees had been part of AAP’s promises in the 2020 elections but were not fulfilled during its government’s term.

“We failed to fulfil three guarantees. In 2020, Covid affected the work, and later, they put us in jail in fake cases. When our government is formed, we will fulfill these promises,” said Kejriwal. “When I was in jail, they put boulders in sewer lines to block sewer lines to paint us in bad light. We will get it fixed,” he said.

“Apart from the 15 guarantees, the six freebies such as free electricity, free water, free and good education, free bus rides, free pilgrimage and free treatment will continue,” he said further.

Kejriwal repeated his claim that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) takes power in Delhi, it will discontinue the existing free schemes—a claim that the BJP denies.

“BJP leaders have made it clear that they will stop free education, electricity, Mohalla clinics, free bus rides when it comes to power in Delhi. The closure of these schemes will lead to an additional financial burden of 25,000 monthly on households. People are saving ₹25,000 monthly due to AAP government schemes. If you vote for BJP, you will have to meet an additional ₹25,000 expenses. I request everyone to vote for AAP,” stated Kejriwal.

Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during the release of the third and final segment of the party's manifesto for the Delhi elections on Saturday, assured that all ongoing welfare schemes in Delhi would continue under BJP governance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President JP Nadda have also reinforced this commitment.

The BJP manifesto includes several major promises, such as creating 50,000 government jobs, generating two million self-employment opportunities, introducing 13,000 e-buses for Delhi, providing free bus rides for women, distributing free scooters and laptops to meritorious students, building 350,000 permanent houses for slum-dwellers, regularising unauthorised colonies, offering financial assistance for the weddings of economically weaker young women, free Metro travel for students, allowances for Hindu priests, improving air quality, establishing welfare boards for workers and cleaning the Yamuna River.

Shah also reiterated the commitments made in the earlier parts of the manifesto, which include a ₹2,500 monthly allowance for poor women, ₹21,000 one-time aid for pregnant women, LPG cylinders priced at ₹500 for those in need, ₹2,500 monthly pensions for senior citizens, free education for all and increasing pensions for the elderly from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000 per month.

In contrast, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal highlighted that the AAP manifesto focuses on fulfilled guarantees. While launching the manifesto, Kejriwal signed a guarantee card as a mark of assurance. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj emphasised that AAP was the first party to introduce the term “guarantee” in its manifesto.

The AAP’s list of guarantees includes the following commitments:

1. Addressing Unemployment: A comprehensive plan to tackle the issue of joblessness in Delhi.
2. Mahila Samman Yojana: Providing ₹2,100 monthly financial assistance to every woman.
3. Sanjeevani Yojana: Offering free medical services for all citizens above 60 years of age, covering both government and private hospitals.
4. Correction of Water Bills: Waiving inflated and incorrect water bills.
5. 24/7 Clean Water Supply: Ensuring a continuous supply of clean drinking water to every household in Delhi.
6. Clean Yamuna Campaign: Taking steps to clean the Yamuna River.
7. World-Class Roads: Upgrading and maintaining roads to European standards.
8. Dr. Ambedkar Scholarship Yojana: Funding higher education at foreign universities for all Dalit students in Delhi.
9. Affordable Travel: Free bus travel for all students and a 50% concession on Metro fares.
10. Pujari and Granthi Yojana: Providing a monthly allowance of ₹18,000 to all Pujaris and Granthis.
11. Extended Utility Benefits: Extending the free electricity and water scheme to include tenants as beneficiaries.
12. Modernised Sewage System: Replacing all old and blocked sewage lines.
13. Ration Card Initiative: Reopening the application process for new ration cards.
14. Support for Auto Drivers and E-Rickshaw Pullers: Offering ₹10 lakh life insurance, ₹5 lakh accident insurance, ₹1 lakh for daughters’ weddings and free coaching for their children.
15. RWA Empowerment: Providing special funds to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) for hiring and maintaining independent security guards.