Delhi Elections 2015: We won’t confront Centre but seek cooperation, says a mellower Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: In a heated election campaign that's bristling with charges and counter-charges, former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal told TOI on Tuesday that an AAP government in Delhi won't be looking for a confrontation with the Centre.

"We do not want confrontation but are looking for constructive co-operation with the Centre and hope for reciprocation," he said in an exclusive interview. (Read full interview: 'People are now asking for delivery, not speeches; BJP has not kept promises')

Buoyed by opinion polls predicting an AAP victory, Kejriwal said both he and his party have evolved and the changes will be evident in the way they function.

"For a healthy democracy, one needs debate, discussion, dissent and dharna. We will do whatever is needed but dharna will be the last resort," he said.

He said if last time AAP had promised that they would quit if unable to deliver on the promise of Swaraj, "this time we will struggle within the government".

But he was bitter about what he described as BJP's "abusive agenda" against him and his party. He said they have called him all kinds of names which has only helped AAP regain middle class support. "People don't like negative politics. If you have to be negative, then criticize our performance. BJP has become personal and started abusing. The middle class is sensitive to language. Its switch to AAP has happened largely in the past month or so," he said.

Kejriwal said people believe democracy needs checks and balances and don't want the same party at the Centre and in Delhi.