The campaign for the Lok Sabha elections 2019 has been perhaps the most vicious, with a huge number of candidates seeking votes in the name of caste and religion, and many trying to regale their voters by making sexist and misogynist remarks.

The latest to join the list of those apparently seeking votes at any cost is Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi.

A party that swung to power promising to fight thugs and goons now has one of its most prominent faces reportedly asking people to vote for goons — just to keep the BJP out of power.

REVOLTING. @ArvindKejriwal's protégé Ms Atishi Marlena (named after Marx and Lenin by her parents) - who wanted to change the system and fight against thugs and corruption - advises people to close their eyes and vote for THUGS and GOONS. (h/t @ShefVaidya) https://t.co/o2poL1E5YZ pic.twitter.com/Z8GWSzpppg — Anand Ranganathan (@ARanganathan72) April 28, 2019

Addressing an election rally, Atishi reportedly said: “Agar aap UP main dekhiye to BJP ko sirf SP aur BSP ki coalition hara sakti hai aur koi nahi hara sakta. So if we were UP voters to hame kya karna chahiye tha? Hame apna vote jaake SP-BSP ke gatbandhan ko dena chahiye chahe unka jaisa bhi candidate ho. Hamare ek jankar hain, unse baat ho rahi thi to kehte hain ki ji hamare ilake ka candidate to gunda hai. Main kya karun? I said abhi aankh band karke coalition ko vote jaake daal aao because this is an election jahan par BJP ko harana zaroori hai (If you look at UP, only the Samajwadi Party-Bahujan Samaj Party coalition can defeat the BJP. So if we were UP voters, what should we do? We should go and cast our votes in favour of the SP-BSP candidate no matter how good or bad their candidate is. There is an acquaintance of mine who said the candidate in my area is a goon. I said close your eyes and vote for him because this is an election where it is important to ensure the BJP loses.”

This is a deplorable level coming from a leader who has been widely credited for having done good work in the field of education in Delhi.

In a bid to win her first Parliamentary election, the way Atishi has promoted the politics of hate and goondaism here, she sure has disappointed many of her supporters and those who still believe AAP’s promise of change was real.

If young people, whose entry into politics is encouraged by the belief that they will free the country from the politics of hate and hooliganism, are to openly tell voters to vote for goons, democracy is indeed threatened.

Atishi has disappointed many supporters and those who believe AAP’s promise of change was real. (Source: Facebook)

The rise of AAP in India's politics was touted as an example of the success of democracy, where common people fighting for common causes could stake claim to power, win elections and form governments.

For that party to tell voters to vote for goons is a blatant invocation to promote goondaism in politics.

So far, the party has not issued any regret or condemnation of the comment allegedly made by Atishi.

Worse, AAP co-founder Manish Sisodia has tried to defend Atishi — saying she has not named any goon.

In another example of regressive politics, Sisodia has apparently been seeking votes for Atishi on the basis of her caste.

मुझे दुःख है कि बीजेपी और कांग्रेस मिलकर हमारी पूर्वी दिल्ली की प्रत्याशी @AtishiAAP के धर्म को लेकर झूँठ फैला रहे है.बीजेपी और कांग्रेस वालो! जान लो- 'आतिशी सिंह' है उसका पूरा नाम. राजपूतानी है. पक्की क्षत्राणी...झाँसी की रानी है. बच के रहना. जीतेगी भी और इतिहास भी बनाएगी. — Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 27, 2019

Yes, it is true that most parties do it — but if AAP was supposed to do what all parties were doing anyway, what was the reason for AAP to be voted to power?

These statements show AAP’s desperation to win elections, just like every other party uses divisive tactics to desperately win.

It is time AAP does some soul-searching.

And perhaps, so do its supporters.

Also read: Atishi: 'BJP is not coming back to power. There will be a coalition and AAP will support any govt that gives Delhi full statehood'