As the Delhi Assembly elections loom, political alliances crumble and rivalries deepen. Amid leadership squabbles in the INDIA Bloc and speculation of backroom deals, Arvind Kejriwal has ended all speculation about any possible tie-up with Congress.
BY PC Bureau
BY PC bureau
Amid confusion and chaos within the INDIA Bloc over leadership disputes—especially with some opposition leaders urging Congress to step aside for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee—AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal has decided not to align with Congress for the Delhi Assembly polls.
On Wednesday, Kejriwal dismissed rumors about a potential alliance between Congress and AAP, asserting that his party would contest the elections independently. “There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress,” he clarified, ending speculation about a possible seat-sharing arrangement for the elections scheduled in February next year.”
Reports had suggested a seat-sharing formula, with Congress potentially getting 15 seats, one or two reserved for other INDIA Bloc members, and the remaining for AAP. However, Kejriwal’s statement put these rumors to rest.
Reacting to Kejriwal’s announcement, “BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to X to criticize AAP, stating, ‘AAP, which had sworn never to ally with Congress, was secretly striking a deal with them. The moment they were exposed, they made a sudden U-turn. Let’s not forget that Kejriwal and his team had previously allied with the corrupt Congress during the Lok Sabha elections, only to end up with zero seats. This time, their aim was to consolidate the Muslim vote bank, but once the news leaked, the drama of denial began.'”
AAP’s Strategy and Preparations
AAP has taken a significant lead over both Congress and BJP in engaging with the electorate and finalizing its candidates. The party recently dropped 18 sitting MLAs based on internal surveys assessing candidate popularity. Highlighting its welfare model and pledging similar initiatives, Kejriwal aims to secure a third consecutive term in Delhi—a feat only achieved in the past by Sheila Dikshit.
In contrast, Congress is still recovering from setbacks in Maharashtra and Haryana. The party has yet to launch its campaign or finalize candidates, and there is no clarity on who will lead its campaign in Delhi.
Meanwhile, the BJP has mounted a fierce attack on Kejriwal over alleged involvement in the liquor scam but faces challenges in identifying a credible chief ministerial candidate. The party is gearing up for an aggressive campaign, planning to deploy senior leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and others, to rally support in Delhi.
Congress-AAP Alliance in the Lok Sabha Polls
Earlier this year, AAP and Congress contested the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi as part of the INDIA Bloc, campaigning for each other. Kejriwal, who was then out on interim bail for election-related activities, even sought votes for Congress. The seat-sharing arrangement allotted 4 seats to AAP and 3 to Congress out of Delhi’s 7 parliamentary constituencies. Despite their joint efforts, the BJP swept all 7 seats in the city.
Interestingly, AAP opted to contest independently in Punjab, where it ran in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies, sidelining Congress. AAP currently governs Punjab with a massive mandate, having won 92 out of 117 seats in the 2022 Assembly polls, decisively ousting Congress from power.
With the Delhi Assembly elections approaching, AAP’s decision to avoid an alliance with Congress underscores its confidence in replicating its Punjab success in the national capital.
