A day after Prime Minister Narendera Modi took a pot shot at AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, asking him to join the naxals, the party on Sunday raised close to ₹75 lakh in two separate fund raising events held here.

The AAP is raising funds to fight the forthcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Former Infosys CFO V Balakrishnan played a key role in organising the events.

“Today, at the fund raising lunch, close to 200 people got registered and attended, and we were able to raise close to ₹70 lakh,” Prithvi Reddy, AAP’s national executive member, told BusinessLine .

At ₹20,000 per head, the lunch meet was held at Hotel Woodlands. Some donors contributed additionally to the party. Speaking at the lunch, Kejriwal expressed confidence about coming back to power in Delhi. The BJP is a party that follows politics that is all about investing and incurring profits, he said.

Criticising Modi, he said: “Protesting is our right and a part of democracy. BJP has no right to oppose our right.”

Later in the day, Kejriwal addressed a public meet on “Delhi Elections — Opportunities and Possibilities of Alternate Politics in India”, organised by the city-based St Aloysius Degree College.

Selfie with Mufflerman

Another event, Selfie with Mufflerman, drew about 1,000 people. At ₹500 per head, the AAP collected around ₹6 lakh.

Of the 1,000 who signed up, 25 were selected through a draw of lots to take a selfie with Kejriwal, said Reddy.

Key source

After Delhi and Mumbai, Bengaluru has emerged as a key source of funds for the AAP. AAP Karnataka, during the last Lok Sabha elections, held a similar fund raising dinner to raise ₹50 lakh.

“But this time around, we were able to convince the people about the 49 days in office and as to why we had quit (as Delhi CM),” said Reddy.

“During the previous Delhi Assembly elections, AAP Karnataka stood third in fund raising. This time around the response is good so far and we expect to move up the ladder,” he added.

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