AAP Threatens to Urge INDI Alliance to Expel Congress Over Ajay Maken’s Remarks
New Delhi, 26th December 2024: In a significant setback to Opposition unity, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announced it would urge the INDIA alliance to expel the Congress if the party fails to take action against its Delhi leader, Ajay Maken.
Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh accused the Congress of aiding the BJP ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February. Sanjay Singh alleged, “Ajay Maken is following the BJP’s script, attacking AAP leaders on their instructions. Yesterday, he crossed all limits by labelling our leader, Arvind Kejriwal, as anti-national.” Singh further noted that neither the Congress nor Ajay Maken has ever used such language against BJP leaders.
This confrontation comes after the AAP and Congress collaborated during the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, campaigning for each other’s candidates, although the BJP won all seven seats. Singh highlighted that Kejriwal had supported Congress candidates during these elections but is now being accused of anti-national activities. He also pointed out that AAP refrained from criticizing Congress during the Haryana Assembly polls, despite failing to ally.
Sanjay Singh demanded Congress take action against Ajay Maken within 24 hours, warning that AAP would approach the INDIA alliance to seek Congress’s removal if no action is taken.
Chief Minister Atishi accused Congress of aligning with the BJP in Delhi, claiming the party prioritizes targeting AAP leaders rather than the BJP. She questioned, “Has Congress ever filed police complaints against BJP? But they are doing so against AAP.”
Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress released a 12-point white paper criticizing AAP and BJP for mismanagement in pollution control, civic facilities, and law and order. Ajay Maken stated that AAP, despite its roots in an anti-corruption movement, failed to establish a Janlokpal in Delhi. He described Kejriwal as “Farziwal” and called him the “king of fraud” in the country.
Though AAP is part of the INDIA bloc, it remains a fierce rival of Congress in Delhi and Punjab. The Kejriwal-led party ended Congress’s 15-year rule in Delhi by defeating former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
