New Delhi, December 1: In a significant development ahead of next year’s Delhi Assembly elections, Arvind Kejriwal, convener of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Chief Minister of Delhi, announced on Sunday that his party will not enter into any alliances for the upcoming polls.
Speaking at a press conference, Kejriwal made it clear that AAP intends to contest the election independently.
This announcement comes at a time when the political dynamics of Delhi have undergone substantial changes in recent months. The Union Territory has seen numerous high-profile defections, with several leaders from both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) joining AAP. When asked about the possibility of an alliance, Kejriwal responded firmly, stating, "AAP will have no alliance for assembly polls in Delhi."
It is important to note that AAP and Congress were both part of the opposition INDIA bloc and had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together in Delhi. However, both parties faced a crushing deeat, with the BJP winning all seats.
Tensions between AAP and Congress became apparent after their inability to reach a seat-sharing agreement before the Haryana Assembly elections in October, despite multiple rounds of negotiations. This year, AAP has also faced a series of legal challenges that resulted in several key party leaders being incarcerated. Following his release on bail in the liquor policy case, Kejriwal resigned as Delhi's Chief Minister, passing the leadership to Atishi.
With the Delhi Assembly elections on the horizon, the upcoming polls will serve as a crucial test for AAP’s governance record, as it faces off against the BJP’s efforts to strengthen its foothold in the capital. Meanwhile, the Congress, which has been struggling to regain its relevance in Delhi since losing power in 2013, will now have to find a way to re-establish itself in the state.
