In a recent development, the absence of Arvind Kejriwal from the I.N.D.I.A bloc poster for the upcoming crucial meeting scheduled in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1 has ignited discussions about the unity within the opposition alliance.
The absence of the Delhi Chief Minister from the poster, which prominently features leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh Yadav, Omar Abdullah, Hemant Soren, Mamata Banerjee, and Sitaram Yechury, has triggered speculation regarding tensions between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress.
Shehzad Poonawala, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), seized the opportunity to express his thoughts on social media. He remarked, “Now dear friends, observe closely. Rahul is the leader of the pack that includes Nitish Ji, Sharad Pawar, Akhilesh, Omar, Hemant, Mamata Di, Sitaram Yechury, etc. Are AAP & Congress headed for a split?
HM Amit Shah was bang on!” Poonawala’s post suggested the possibility of a divergence between AAP and Congress. He further emphasized that the absence of Kejriwal might signify varying ambitions within the alliance.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy pointed out that the opposition needs to resolve internal contradictions and choose a united candidate for the position of Prime Minister. The absence of Arvind Kejriwal from the poster has brought to light the ongoing tensions between AAP and Congress. This has been evident through recent confrontations concerning the performance of their respective governments.
Despite both AAP and Congress participating in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (I.N.D.I.A), strains in their relationship have persisted, particularly at the state level. The friction between the two parties was accentuated by statements made by Congress leader Alka Lamba about contesting all seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi independently, a move that AAP contested.
Sandeep Dikshit, another Congress leader, clarified that strengthening the party across districts was a strategic maneuver, regardless of alliance discussions. However, AAP questioned the purpose of alliance talks if Congress intended to contest independently. Dikshit suggested that AAP’s response might stem from concerns about the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) influence and a desire for attention.
He emphasized that despite ideological differences, Congress would support AAP if the latter aligned with the central leadership. Dikshit underscored that the ultimate decision about forming an alliance rested with the central leadership. This episode underscores the intricacies of the relationship between AAP and Congress within the broader context of opposition alliances.
