'Predatory move': AAP slams BJP over power tariff hike, says subsidise rich tech firms

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-05-13 02:04:01 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-22 04:50:48

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Despite promising cheap electricity and even free power for some, the BJP-led government in Delhi is now raising power rates, alleging that the move will help private players.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) slammed the move as "predatory," saying the government should instead subsidise residential consumers and even offer free electricity to the poor if necessary.

The BJP, meanwhile, says the tariff revision is overdue and necessary for poorer sections of the population.

Delhi's Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Vinai Kumar Saxena last week approved a hike in power tariffs for domestic consumers, which will see households using more than 201 units per month charged an increased rate.

The AAP said the hike would affect around 85% of the 18 lakh consumers in the city. The new tariffs are set to be reflected in bills from next month.

"The BJP used to accuse the AAP of being a party for the rich. In truth, the BJP is the party of the rich corporates who want the poor to suffer forever," said AAP MLA Raghav Chadha at a press conference on Monday.

Chadha said the hike would affect the poor and marginalised the most and that the BJP's slogan of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" (Collective efforts, inclusive growth) was hollow.

"They are transferring subsidies from the poor to the rich. It is an anti-people policy of the BJP, and it reveals their intentions clearly," Chadha said.

"They (the BJP) are laying landmines for the AAP in Delhi. But we will not let the poor suffer because of these landmines," he added.

Chadha said the hike would affect working-class families, daily wage labourers, and small shopkeepers the most.

"They (the BJP) promised Rs 2,500 for women, 300 units of free electricity. But now, they are raising power rates to help private players," Chadha said.

He also said the increase in power tariffs was part of a larger "strategy" that included recent increases in the cost of water and parking fees, among other things.

"They are doing this to create a atmosphere of fear and frustration among the people of Delhi," Chadha said.

"But AAP is with the people. We will not let this government destroy the lives of the people of Delhi," he added.

Seeking to clarify the BJP's position, party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala said the tariff revision was long overdue and that the AAP's criticism was "political opportunism."

"They (AAP) are political opportunists. They are trying to politicise every issue. The tariff was subsidised because of the COVID-19 pandemic," Poonawala said.

"The tariff revision was overdue. Fifteen months ago, the Delhi Electricity Regulatory Commission (DERC) had proposed a hike, but the AAP government did not act on it," he added.

Poonawala said the hike would help improve the finances of discoms (power distribution companies) and enhance the infrastructure for supplying power.

"The AAP is opposing it because they want to politicise it. They don't understand the nuances of governing a state," he added.

Poonawala also said the BJP had introduced several free power schemes for poorer consumers, refuting AAP's claims that only the rich would benefit.

"They (AAP) don't have any credibility left. They are saying anything to get some traction," he added.

As of now, domestic consumers in Delhi are charged a flat rate of Rs. 8.95 per unit of power consumed, regardless of whether they consume less than 201 units or more than 201 units.

While consumers who use less than 201 units are considered "below the poverty line" or BPL, according to the Delhi government, those who use more than 201 units are classified as "above the poverty line" or APL.

The L-G's order has removed the slab of Rs. 8.95 per unit for BPL consumers and introduced a revised slab of Rs. 9.60 per unit for consumers using up to 200 units.

Consumers who use between 201 and 400 units will now be charged Rs. 12.26 per unit, up from Rs. 8.97 previously.

The rate for consumers using more than 400 units per month has been raised from Rs. 14.29 to Rs. 16.91 per unit.

At the time of the last revision in December 2017, the government announced a four-year period during which there would be no further revision in tariffs.

The AAP said the BJP had only introduced the

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