Gehlot Calls AAP an Opponent, Kejriwal Accuses Congress of a Secret BJP Alliance
New Delhi
As Delhi gears up for the Assembly elections, cracks are emerging within the I.N.D.I.A. bloc. AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal thanked Mamata Banerjee’s TMC and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party for their support, while Congress finds itself isolated.
Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot stirred the pot by labeling AAP as the party’s rival in Delhi, accusing Kejriwal of misleading voters with claims of a sure-shot win. Responding swiftly, Kejriwal alleged a covert alliance between Congress and BJP in the elections.
Voting for Delhi’s 70 Assembly seats is scheduled for February 5, with results to be announced on February 8.
Kejriwal Thanks Gehlot for “Revealing the Truth”
Kejriwal said, “Thank you, Gehlot Ji, for clarifying that AAP is Congress’s opponent in Delhi while you remain silent on BJP. Delhiites suspected Congress treats AAP as the opposition and BJP as a partner. Today, you’ve made that collaboration public. On behalf of Delhi’s citizens, thank you for the clarification.”
Gehlot Dismisses Allegations of Congress-BJP Alliance
Gehlot refuted Kejriwal’s claims, saying, “When Kejriwal contests elections, he has his own tactics and calculations. But how can he assert that Congress and BJP are together? This is impossible. While politics will continue, I urge the Centre to learn from Rajasthan’s health schemes and consider implementing similar initiatives nationwide.”
AAP Gains Support from Three Parties, Congress Isolated
The AAP has garnered backing from the Samajwadi Party, TMC, and Shiv Sena (UBT). Thanking the leaders, Kejriwal stated, “Delhi voters trust us.” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut criticized BJP for launching projects before elections but failing to deliver in five years.
In contrast, Congress remains without allies in Delhi.
Past Statements: AAP and Congress Reject Alliance
Speculations about a possible AAP-Congress alliance were put to rest last month. On December 11, Kejriwal announced on X (formerly Twitter) that AAP would contest alone. A few weeks later, on December 25, Congress leader Ajay Maken released a 12-point white paper criticizing both AAP and BJP. He called Kejriwal the “Fraud King” and regretted Congress’s 2013 decision to support AAP for 40 days.
Maken remarked, “If there’s one word to describe Kejriwal, it’s ‘Fakewal.’ Delhi’s current state and Congress’s weakened position are results of our past mistake of supporting AAP.”
INDIA Bloc Faces Internal Strain
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav added fuel to the fire, stating that the INDIA alliance was only intended for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. During a public interaction in Buxar, Yadav said, “It’s natural for parties like Congress and AAP to have differences. The alliance was formed solely to defeat BJP in the general elections, and it remains confined to that goal.”
As Delhi’s elections draw near, the I.N.D.I.A. bloc shows visible signs of division. While AAP strengthens its position with external support, Congress faces isolation amid growing tensions. The cracks in opposition unity could shape the electoral outcome in unpredictable ways.
