BJP's power(ful) rally against Delhi government

The Bharatiya Janata Party's state unit will organise a "Bijli Rally" Sunday against the Delhi government's power tariff hike.

The BJP will also present a 10-point formula for bringing down electricity rates by 30 percent.

Opposition parties like BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party have alleged collusion between power distribution companies and the Delhi government,

The allegedly inflated electricity bills have become a political issue in the election year.

BJP President Rajnath Singh will address the rally at the Ramlila Maidan, state unit chief Vijay Goel said in a press conference Saturday.

Goel asked why are the power distribution companies still operating in the capital if they are incurring losses.

"Why haven't they opted out of the power sector?" he asked.

Goel, a former union minister in the National Democrat Alliance government, said the rally would be a success as it has the support of trader associations, resident welfare associations and senior citizen federations of the capital.

He also announced that after coming to power, BJP would immediately review Congress government and Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission's decision to approve 300 percent hike in power tariff.

"We (BJP) are committed to bringing down power tariff by 30 percent. Those who are questioning it should know that if you have the right kind of intention and political will, then this is not difficult," he added.

The BJP leader also said power rates have been hiked 185 percent since 2002.

He said his party would invite more power distribution companies and bring transparency in the sector if voted to power.

"The power companies should have been buying bulk power at cheaper rates but instead they are buying expensive power from their own companies. These high prices are passed on to consumers. There is no transparency in the power purchase agreement," he added.

Party's senior leaders Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Vijay Kumar Malhotra will also be present at the rally.