New Delhi: In the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections, a fierce war of words erupted between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress. On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi held a press conference in which she accused Congress of colluding with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to undermine AAP’s chances in the upcoming elections.
Atishi’s allegations were centered around claims that the BJP was funding the election campaigns of Congress candidates Sandeep Dixit and Farhad Suri. “We have received information from reliable sources that the BJP is funding the elections of Sandeep Dixit and Farhad Suri. Congress has fielded Dixit against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in New Delhi and Suri against Manish Sisodia in Jangpura,” Atishi said. These accusations come as the political temperature rises ahead of the crucial polls.
The Chief Minister also raised questions about Congress’ position toward AAP, specifically referencing the alliance formed between the two parties during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. “If Congress has a problem with AAP, then why did it form an alliance with us in the Lok Sabha?” she asked, implying that Congress’s actions were contradictory.
Atishi went further, suggesting that Congress had entered into an agreement with the BJP aimed at defeating AAP in the Delhi elections. “It has become clear from the actions of Congress that the party has made some agreement with BJP for Delhi elections,” she added.
The AAP leader also lashed out at senior Congress leader Ajay Maken, calling out his comments about Arvind Kejriwal. “Yesterday, senior Congress leader Ajay Maken said that Arvind Kejriwal is a traitor. I want to ask the Congress party: have they ever levelled the same allegations against any BJP leader? No. But today, Congress is accusing Kejriwal of being a traitor,” Atishi said, referring to Maken’s harsh criticism of the Delhi Chief Minister.
Atishi also drew attention to the FIR filed by Congress against her and Arvind Kejriwal, questioning its motives. “Congress filed an FIR against me and Arvind Kejriwal yesterday. Why? Has Congress ever filed any FIR against any BJP leader?” she asked, further asserting that BJP was behind the funding of Congress candidates in the elections.
Sanjay Singh, AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP, echoed Atishi’s accusations, alleging that Congress was working in tandem with the BJP. Singh criticized Congress for its actions, saying, “Congress is doing everything in Delhi that can benefit BJP.” He also mocked Ajay Maken’s statements, adding, “On Wednesday, Ajay Maken called AAP leader and Delhi’s most popular leader, Kejriwal, anti-national. To date, Maken has not called any BJP leader anti-national.”
In a show of force, AAP demanded that Congress take action against Ajay Maken for his comments. “If the leaders of the Delhi Pradesh Congress are not under the control of senior Congress leaders and the national unit, then action should be taken against them,” stated Sanjay Singh, giving Congress 24 hours to respond.
As the political battle intensifies, all eyes are on the Delhi Assembly elections, with AAP accusing Congress of aligning with BJP in an effort to weaken its position.