Arvind Kejriwal slams BJP after ED raids AAP MP Ashok Mittal’s premises. Claims it’s a ‘poll preparation’ for Punjab and vows the public will give a reply.

The political temperature in Punjab has reached a boiling point following the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids on the residence and business establishments of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP and Deputy Leader, Dr. Ashok Mittal. National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal has reacted sharply to the development, terming the central agency’s action as a desperate move by the BJP ahead of the Punjab assembly elections.

Arvind Kejriwal Hits Out: “Punjab Will Give a Befitting Reply

Following the multi-city searches conducted by the ED on Wednesday, Arvind Kejriwal took to social media to express his outrage. Supporting Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s stance, Kejriwal stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has officially begun his “election preparations” in Punjab by deploying central agencies.

“Modi Ji has started preparations for the elections in Punjab. But the people of Punjab will not tolerate this. They will give a befitting reply to the BJP,” Arvind Kejriwal posted, emphasizing that the AAP will not be intimidated by what they call “investigative terrorism.”

The Timing of the Raid: A Political Pattern?

The raids on Ashok Mittal, the founder of Lovely Professional University (LPU), come just days after he was appointed as the party’s Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, replacing Raghav Chadha. AAP leaders, including Anurag Dhanda and Manish Sisodia, have questioned this “coincidence,” alleging that the BJP is targeting Mittal specifically because of his elevation within the party hierarchy.

मोदी जी ने पंजाब में चुनावों की तैयारी शुरू कर दी। लेकिन पंजाब के लोग ये बर्दाश्त नहीं करेंगे। बीजेपी को इसका करारा जवाब देंगे। https://t.co/0yorKVftpM

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) April 15, 2026

also read:- Anurag Dhanda Allegation: Is Raghav Chadha Behind The ED…

Arvind Kejriwal has consistently maintained that whenever the BJP senses a loss in an upcoming election, it sends its “election army”—the ED and CBI—to harass opposition leaders.

AAP Leaders Rally Behind Ashok Mittal

While the ED officials state that the searches are part of a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) investigation into the Lovely Group, the AAP top brass remains united. Senior leader Manish Sisodia claimed that this is a “typical Modi style” operation where raids are followed by political visits from top BJP leadership.

Anurag Dhanda further escalated the rhetoric, suggesting that the silence of mainstream media on certain internal dynamics is telling. He hinted that while the media is quick to quote sources on international news, they are hesitant to report on the alleged “source-based” information regarding secret meetings between certain leaders and the BJP.

The Road to 2026-27 Punjab Elections

With the 2026 local body polls and the 2027 Assembly elections on the horizon, Arvind Kejriwal has turned this administrative action into a major electoral narrative. By framing the ED action as an attack on “Punjab’s pride,” the party aims to consolidate its base against the central government.