No alliance between AAP-Congress for Assembly elections: Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal has firmly ruled out any alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. Addressing speculation, Kejriwal took to X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Dec 11 to clarify his party’s stance.

“Aam Aadmi Party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress,” he posted.

Aam aadmi party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with congress. https://t.co/NgDUgQ8RDo

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) December 11, 2024

Kejriwal’s statement comes in response to reports suggesting that AAP and Congress were close to finalizing a seat-sharing arrangement for the polls scheduled early next year. The elections will test AAP’s governance record against the BJP’s efforts to gain a stronger foothold in the national capital.

The INDIA bloc, a coalition of 26 opposition parties including AAP and Congress, had hoped to consolidate anti-BJP votes in Delhi. However, Kejriwal’s announcement signals a potential fracture in opposition unity.

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Earlier this year, AAP and Congress contested the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together but failed to win any seats. The BJP swept all seven constituencies, prompting both parties to reconsider their strategies for the assembly polls.

Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav echoed this sentiment, describing the Lok Sabha tie-up as “a mistake.” Last month, he confirmed the Congress’s decision to contest all 70 assembly seats independently. “The official position of the party is very clear—we will fight on all 70 seats by ourselves, and there will be no alliance,” Yadav stated.

The announcement sets the stage for a triangular contest in the Delhi Assembly elections, with AAP, Congress, and BJP in the fray. Historically, AAP has dominated the city-state’s political landscape, securing 67 seats in 2015 and 62 seats in 2020. The BJP won three and eight seats in those elections, respectively, while the Congress failed to secure any representation.

The Delhi Assembly election is scheduled to take place in early 2025; however, the Election Commission of India has yet to announce the exact date.