Arvind Kejriwal led Aam Adami Party (AAP) government has extended power subsidy scheme in Delhi till March 31, 2025. Delhi cabinet approved earlier this week the extension of power subsidy scheme for the financial year 2024–25.
Delhi unit of the BJP has also welcomed the decision of AAP government. “We welcome the extension of power subsidy,” said Praveen Shankar Kapoor, the BJP’s Delhi media head. On the other hand, Delhi’s Finance and Power Minister Atishi Singh alleged that “the opposition has made repeated attempts to derail the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s scheme in Delhi.”
Earlier this week, while presenting the Delhi Budget, Atishi said Delhi has around 5.86 million domestic electricity consumers, out of which around 68.33%, or 4.02 million domestic consumers, availed benefits of electricity subsidy. Out of these, over 2.2 million consumers also received zero bills. In 2023, around 3.41 crore zero electricity bills were issued to consumers. Delhi government pays ₹3,500 crore annually for the scheme.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal shared a post on his social media account X (formally Twitter) and wrote, “I congratulate the people of Delhi that the 24-hour electricity with zero power cut and free electricity has been extended till March 31, 2025. This also includes free electricity for the lawyers’ chambers. Many people had apprehensions about the continuation of the electricity subsidy and whether they would get the benefits over the next year or not. Let me tell you that these people tried their best to stop it. But your son got this work completed.”
Power Minister Atishi addressed the press after the Cabinet meeting and said AAP government has been fulfilling this promise for the past nine years. “Our opponents tried to ensure that Delhiites do not get zero power bills. Officers were threatened, but since our government has committed for providing zero bills to consumers, we will ensure that they get it,” said Atishi.
On the other hand, Delhi BJP dismissed all the allegations made by Aam Adami Party. “The BJP has no opposition to free electricity being given to residential consumers for up to 200 units a month. We welcome the extension of power subsidies through the exchequer. But we repeat our demand that all consumers, be it residential or commercial, should be given the first 200 units free of charge,” said BJP Delhi media head Praveen Shankar Kapoor.
Delhi BJP secretary Harish Khurana said the allegations are atrocious. He said most commercial, industrial, and even residential consumers are forced to buy electricity at the highest rates in North India.