Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at Delhi BJP office Delhi on Thursday. (Press Trust of India)
The BJP - which has drafted a new, aggressive strategy for the last lap in the Delhi elections - says it will take on what it calls Arvind Kejriwal's "negativism" with a positive campaign only.
"If the Aam Aadmi Party is born out of politics of negativism then BJP should not do the same. We have a lot of positives. The BJP should only do positive campaigning is my advice to the party," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told NDTV, on the bitter trading of charges between the two parties in Delhi.
Clearly indicating that the BJP's chief target is Arvind Kejriwal, Mr Jaitley said, "The Congress is disappearing. The AAP's USP is that it can lower the levels of debate and politics. The people have to choose between obstructionists and reformists."
The Jaitley effect was visible immediately. At his rally in east Delhi on Saturday, Prime Minister Modi made no dig at Mr Kejriwal on his famous 'Yes, I am an anarchist' comment as he had done at a previous rally. PM Modi instead focused on highlighting his governments achievements and praised the BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi.
Mr Jaitley reportedly stepped in to ask for a change of strategy after a BJP ad campaign that got a lot of negative reviews upset the party's top leadership.
The cartoon lampooned Mr Kejriwal and showed Gandhian activist Anna Hazare on a photograph with garland around his neck prompting the Aam Aadmi Party leader to tweet, "Nathuram Godse killed Gandhiji on this day in 1948. BJP has killed Anna in its ad today. Shudn't BJP apologise?"
Mr Jaitley had the campaign changed.
The party has now sent out clear instructions to the workers and leaders that there must only be a positive campaign.
Delhi votes next Saturday.