AAP will provide power and water subsidy to tenants as well, says Kejriwal

To woo voters ahead of the civic election in Delhi, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced today that if voted to power, his Aam Aadmi Party would extend power and water subsidies to tenants as well.

This is the second major poll announcement by Kejriwal. The AAP had earlier promised to abolish residential house tax, as the party gears up to wrest control of the three BJP ruled Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCDs). "The tenants living in Delhi do not get the benefit of low tariffs on power and water. After the MCD polls, we will also work to extend the relief to these tenants," Kejriwal tweeted.

The chief minister, however, did not give any timeline on implementation of the promise. He alleged that if the BJP and the Congress are voted to power, they will hike the electricity tariffs in the national capital. AAP leaders said the move would help the party reach a wider voter base, who have not got the relief of power subsidy  As per the Delhi government scheme, consumers whose monthly power consumption does not exceed 400 units get 50 per cent subsidy in tariff while it provides 20,000 litres of free water per month to a family.

Many of those who sublet rooms in Delhi do not have a separate electricity metre. So, even if the tenant consumes 250 units and the landlord uses as many units, jointly it exceeds the slab of 400 units, depriving the tenants of subsidy.