New Delhi: Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lashed out at both the BJP and Congress on Saturday following an order by the Lieutenant Governor to investigate the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) proposed welfare initiatives, triggered by a complaint from Congress's Sandeep Dikshit, media reports said.

Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal accused the two parties of conspiring to block AAP's welfare plans for women and the elderly just ahead of the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

"The BJP lacked the courage to act directly and instead got Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit to file the complaint. Congress and BJP are working together to stop AAP," Kejriwal was quoted as saying by India Today.

This was the first time Kejriwal hit out at Congress and the BJP.

Kejriwal emphasised the significance of AAP's welfare plans, particularly those offering Rs 2,100 to women and free medical treatment to those above 60.

"I had said that after winning the election, we will give Rs 2,100 to women and free treatment to the elderly above 60 years of age. Both these schemes were so beneficial for the public that lakhs of people have registered for them already. This made the BJP nervous," he said.

Responding to the allegations, Kejriwal accused the BJP of trying to undermine AAP's welfare programs.

"The BJP is contesting this election just to stop everything. If they win, they will discontinue all your schemes. If you vote for BJP, you will have to leave Delhi," he warned.

Addressing the investigation, Kejriwal clarified that the proposed welfare schemes, such as the Mahila Samman Card and Sanjeevani Yojna, were still electoral promises, not implemented programs.

"What is there to investigate? These are promises we’ve made for after we win the elections," he said, urging Delhi's residents to keep registering for these initiatives.

Kejriwal also accused BJP leaders of sending "goons" to disrupt AAP's registration camps and claimed that the Delhi Police were involved in halting the process.

“BJP doesn’t want the welfare of women and the elderly. They are anti-women and don’t want them to progress,” he stated, further claiming that the BJP would render Delhi unliveable if it took power, the report added.

Kejriwal concluded the press conference by asserting his readiness to face jail again for the people of Delhi.

“If they send me to jail, I’ll go again, but I’ll keep fighting for you,” he declared.

He urged Delhi residents to “trust their Kejriwal” and continue supporting AAP's proposed welfare schemes.

The heated exchanges and blame games are taking place amid escalating political tensions in Delhi as parties gear up for the Delhi Assembly elections, set to be held before February 2025.