Perhaps no festival in Delhi carries as much political charge as Chhath, the most influential religious-cultural export from Bihar in recent decades. Less than a fortnight before Assembly polls in the state, the political battleground is on the banks of the Yamuna.

Like every year, the BJP and AAP have been trading accusations over the preparations for the festival. With nearly 40 lakh Purvanchali voters, mostly migrants from Bihar and eastern UP, living in Delhi , the infamous froth on the river is as political as it is chemical.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has been visiting ghats along the Yamuna, and the BJP has said the river is already clean enough for ritual sipping during the festival.

Ten years ago, the AAP had promised a “revived” and “picnic ready” river in its 70-point m

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