Delhi Election: Arvind Kejriwal Accuses INDIA Partner Congress Of 'Covert, Behind-The-Scenes' Alliance With BJP

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal alleges a 'covert' alliance between Congress and BJP in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections.

New Delhi: Former Delhi CM and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal addresses a press conference, in New Delhi, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

Source : PTI

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday asked the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to formally declare their alleged alliance, amidst escalating tensions between the opposition parties and AAP ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.  

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal alleged a covert collaboration between the Congress and the BJP to target AAP in the upcoming polls. "The Congress and the BJP should officially declare that they are contesting the elections against AAP in an alliance. This covert, behind-the-scenes collaboration is unacceptable," he stated, as quoted by news agency PTI.  

कांग्रेस और BJP को अब औपचारिक रूप से एलान कर देना चाहिए कि वो आम आदमी पार्टी के ख़िलाफ़ गठबंधन में चुनाव लड़ रहे हैं‼️

-@ArvindKejriwal pic.twitter.com/Ct7COe3fuA

— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) January 4, 2025

Relations between AAP and Congress, both part of the opposition INDIA bloc, have been strained since they failed to form an alliance for the Haryana elections. The rift widened further after AAP demanded action against senior Congress leader Ajay Maken for allegedly calling Kejriwal "anti-national." AAP has threatened to approach other members of the INDIA bloc to seek Congress' removal from the coalition.  

Arvind Kejriwal Jabs At Congress, BJP Over Punjab Women's Protest

Taking a dig at Congress, Kejriwal remarked that apart from a few mediapersons, people had stopped taking the party seriously. He added, "We are presenting our track record of 10 years and our plan for the next five while the BJP offers nothing but abuses."  

Kejriwal also criticised the BJP, saying it lacked a chief ministerial face and an agenda for Delhi. "Now, the people of Delhi will decide whether they want those who work or those who only believe in abusing," he asserted.  

Earlier on Saturday, a group of women staged a protest outside Kejriwal's residence on Firozshah Road, demanding the payment of a monthly honourarium of Rs 1,000 in Punjab, which is governed by AAP. Kejriwal dismissed the protest as politically motivated, claiming, "These women belong to the Congress and the BJP, not Punjab. All women in Punjab stand with AAP. They trust us."  

Elections for the 70-member Delhi Assembly are scheduled for February. AAP has already announced its candidates for all seats, while Congress and BJP have declared nominees for 48 and 29 seats, respectively.