New Delhi, Dec 10 (PTI) In a bid to bolster grassroots support in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal Tuesday announced five guarantees for the city's autorickshaw drivers, including a Rs 10 lakh life insurance scheme.
His other promises include Rs 1 lakh assistance for the wedding of a daughter, Rs 2,500 uniform allowance twice a year on Holi and Diwali, and free coaching for auto drivers' children to prepare for competitive exams.
Kejriwal made the announcement after breaking bread with the family members of auto driver Navneet in the Kondli constituency. He was accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal.
Sharing photos of the meeting on X, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said, "Arvind Kejriwal, the brother of Delhi's auto drivers, and his wife Sunita Kejriwal today visited the house of an auto driver brother, met his family and had food with them."
Emphasising AAP's commitment to the welfare of auto-rickshaw drivers, Kejriwal unveiled five guarantees that would be implemented if the party is re-elected to power.
"I am announcing five guarantees for all auto-rickshaw drivers: Life insurance of up to Rs 10 lakh, accident insurance of up to Rs 5 lakh, Rs 1 lakh assistance for the wedding of a daughter, Rs 2,500 uniform allowance twice a year on Holi and Diwali, and free coaching for children to prepare for competitive exams."
"Additionally, the government will restart the 'PoochO' app," the former Delhi chief minister said.
The 'PoochO' app allowed commuters to connect directly with registered auto drivers for easy bookings and improving last-mile connectivity in the city.
Responding to the five guarantees by the AAP supremo, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said Arvind Kejriwal was again trying to "sell dreams" to Delhi’s auto rickshaw drivers.
"For the past 12 years, Kejriwal has been deceiving auto drivers. While he calls them family, he has done nothing to improve their working conditions," he alleged.
The BJP too has made a couple of promises to the autorickshaw drivers, considered the traditional supporters of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP. It has promised cashless medical treatment and life insurance for them if it wins the Delhi Assembly polls slated for early next year.
Kejriwal Tuesday said the city's auto drivers have always supported the AAP and expressed confidence that they would play a key role in his party's victory in the Assembly polls.
He reiterated the AAP government's efforts to support the community and promised to strengthen them further.
Auto driver Navneet said, "Whatever he does is for the betterment of people. He listens to us like a family member and genuinely addresses our concerns."
AAP's five guarantees come a day after Kejriwal met with auto drivers over tea at his residence on Monday, reflecting his consistent efforts to engage with this critical voter base.
The total number of autorickshaws in the national capital is capped at one lakh, according to a 2011 order of the Supreme Court. However, because drivers work in shifts, there are more than 1.5 lakh of them overall.
The election to the 70-member Delhi Assembly is set to witness a fierce contest between the AAP, the BJP, and the Congress. The AAP won the 2015 and 2020 Assembly polls and is seeking to retain power for the third consecutive time.