AAP Threatens Rift in INDIA Alliance Over Delhi Congress Remarks

In a significant development ahead of the Delhi elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday warned that it may push for the removal of the Congress from the INDIA alliance unless the party takes disciplinary action against its leader Ajay Maken. The statement, made by AAP leader Sanjay Singh during a press conference, follows contentious remarks by Delhi Congress leaders targeting the AAP and its convenor, Arvind Kejriwal.

Tensions escalated after Ajay Maken, a senior Congress leader, accused Kejriwal of misleading the public with promises of “non-existent” welfare schemes. Maken referred to the Delhi Chief Minister as "Farziwal" during the release of a 12-point “white paper” criticizing both AAP and BJP for unfulfilled promises related to pollution control, civic management, and law and order.

“If anyone is the king of fraud in the country, it is Arvind Kejriwal,” Maken said, adding that AAP’s promises were deceptive and its governance ineffective. The white paper, titled "Mauka Mauka, Har Baar Dhoka," also questioned AAP’s failure to establish the Janlokpal, a key promise that brought the party to power.

AAP Accuses Congress of Aligning with BJP

Reacting sharply to the remarks, Sanjay Singh alleged that Congress was aiding the BJP in its bid to win the Delhi elections. He demanded that Congress take action against Maken within 24 hours, accusing him of parroting the BJP’s agenda.

“Ajay Maken called Arvind Kejriwal anti-national. Congress's candidate list for Delhi polls appears to have been prepared by the BJP and is aimed at harming AAP,” Singh said.

Delhi Chief Minister Atishi echoed these allegations, accusing the BJP of covertly funding Congress candidates in Delhi. “We have credible information that Congress candidates, including Sandeep Dikshit, are receiving election funding from the BJP,” she alleged.

Row Over Welfare Schemes

The political confrontation intensified after the Delhi government's Women and Child Development (WCD) department clarified that the Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana, a women-oriented welfare scheme announced by AAP, had not been officially notified.

This prompted the Youth Congress to file a complaint, accusing AAP of making “false and deceptive” promises. The complaint also alleged that AAP was collecting sensitive voter information, including ID details and phone numbers, through an online registration process involving OTP verification.

Responding to these accusations, Atishi claimed the notices against the welfare schemes were orchestrated under BJP pressure. She also questioned Congress’s motives, citing its criticism of AAP while remaining silent on BJP leaders.

Implications for Opposition Unity

The ongoing feud between AAP and Congress raises serious questions about the cohesion of the INDIA alliance, a coalition formed to counter the BJP in the upcoming general elections.

Atishi warned that if Congress does not act against Maken, it would indicate an alignment with BJP interests. “If Congress believes we are anti-national, why did they contest the Lok Sabha elections in alliance with us? This shows that Congress leaders have reached a mutual understanding with the BJP to weaken AAP and strengthen the BJP in Delhi,” she said.

The escalating conflict highlights the fragile unity within the opposition alliance and its potential impact on the political landscape in Delhi. As the elections approach, both AAP and Congress face mounting pressure to address internal divisions and realign their strategies.