New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Wednesday that his party will contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections independently, ruling out any alliance with the Congress.
Dispelling speculation about a potential tie-up, Kejriwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify his stance, stating, “Aam Aadmi Party will fight this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress.”
Rumors had been circulating that AAP and Congress were in talks to form an alliance to challenge the BJP in Delhi. However, Kejriwal firmly dismissed these claims, reiterating his party’s self-reliance and independence.
This is not the first time Kejriwal has opposed an alliance with Congress. In previous statements, he categorically ruled out collaborating with Congress for the Delhi Assembly polls. Congress leaders have echoed a similar stance, with Delhi Congress chief Devender Yadav affirming the party’s intent to contest all 70 seats alone.
Despite these declarations, speculation about a potential partnership persisted. Kejriwal’s recent statement puts an end to such rumors, reaffirming that AAP will not align with Congress.
Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal had also dismissed the possibility of a Congress alliance in Punjab, declaring AAP’s plans to contest all 13 Lok Sabha seats independently. A similar breakdown occurred during seat-sharing discussions for Haryana Assembly polls, where both parties failed to reach an agreement.
Meanwhile, AAP has intensified its campaign in Delhi, presenting it as a referendum on the party’s governance. On Tuesday, Kejriwal announced five guarantees for autorickshaw drivers, including Rs 10 lakh life insurance, Rs 1 lakh assistance for a daughter’s wedding, Rs 2,500 biannual uniform allowance, and free coaching for their children.
AAP has so far announced 31 candidates for the upcoming polls, signaling its commitment to the independent contest.
