Lok Sabha elections 2024: Arvind Kejriwal urges voters to exercise franchise to end 'dictatorship'

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose interim bail is set to end on Sunday (June 2), took to his official X account and urged voters to exercise their right in large numbers "in order to protect democracy and the Constitution."

"In this great festival of democracy, the country will vote in the last phase today. All of you are requested to exercise your right to vote in large numbers to protect democracy and the Constitution," Kejriwal posted on X.

"Go to vote yourself and take your neighbours along with you. Dictatorship will lose, and democracy will win," he added.

The AAP supremo's remarks came as the voting in the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha electionon Saturday (June 1) was underway.

'Going back to jail for saving country from dictatorship'

Kejriwal, who has been asked to surrender to police on June 2 after his interim bail ended, on Saturday (June 1) said that he is "proud" of going back to jail as he is doing it "to save the country from dictatorship."

He was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1 for Lok Sabha election campaigning after being arrested in connection with an excise policy scam by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

“I have to surrender on June 2 and I do not know how long I will stay in jail this time. I am going to jail for saving this country from dictatorship and I am proud of it,” the chief minister told a virtual press conference.

“They tried to break me. They stopped my medicines while I was in jail. My weight reduced by six kg after being arrested. My weight was 70 kg when I was arrested. I have not gained weight after coming out of jail,” Kejriwal further said.

Doctors have advised several tests and “they feel this could be a sign of some underlying medical condition”, he added.

The AAP chief said that he would leave his residence at around 3 pm on Sunday (June 2) to surrender at Tihar jail.

“They will try to harass me more but I will not bow down. After going back to jail, I will be worried about you (people). I want to assure you that your services won’t stop. I will soon start providing Rs 1,000 to my mothers and sisters,” he said, referring to a scheme to give Rs 1,000 monthly honorarium.

(With inputs from agencies)