Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a dig at pre-election promises to reduce power and water bills, saying he wondered how such promises could be made in states which were dependent on electricity from outside.  

"During every election, political parties promise free power. People need to think about these promises," said PM Modi on Sunday at a conference on renewable energy in Delhi. And the cost of water, he said, was "basically due to the cost of power".  

The prime minister's comments came a day after the Aam Aadmi Party government took oath -- the party had won 67 of Delhi's 70 assembly seats last week, leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party to mop up the remaining three.  

A chunk of its votes came from the economically backward section, which is now waiting for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to deliver on his promises regarding cheaper electricity and free water.  

Delhi has a power demand of about 5,000 MW and is largely dependent on other states to meet its requirements. "I don't want to make any adverse comment on the Prime Minister," said senior AAP leader Ashutosh. He said he would only request the PM to help make electricity affordable, "because that will do a lot of good for the people of Delhi".