New Delhi:
In the heated run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections scheduled for February 5, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has made a startling allegation, suggesting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress are involved in a long-standing secret alliance. This accusation comes on the heels of a sharp exchange between Kejriwal and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
On Monday, January 13, Rahul Gandhi, addressing a rally in Seelampur, Delhi, launched a scathing attack on Kejriwal, criticizing the AAP government’s handling of pollution, corruption, and inflation in the capital. Gandhi questioned Kejriwal’s promises to transform Delhi into a city like Paris, highlighting the current state of pollution and rising inflation.
Kejriwal responded to Gandhi’s criticism on social media, stating, “Rahul Gandhi has abused me, but I will not comment on his remarks. His fight is to save the Congress, my fight is to save the country.” He further suggested that the upcoming elections would expose the alleged “jugalbandi” (collaboration) between the BJP and the Congress.
The BJP’s IT head, Amit Malviya, quickly responded to Kejriwal’s comments, advising him to focus on saving his New Delhi seat rather than worrying about the country. Kejriwal retorted, “I wrote one line about Rahul Gandhi and the response comes from BJP. See, how much BJP is troubled. This Delhi election will probably reveal the years-long partnership between the Congress and the BJP.”
The Delhi elections have turned into a three-cornered contest between the ruling AAP, the Opposition BJP, and the Congress. Despite being allies in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the AAP and Congress are now engaged in a bitter political fight, trading barbs over issues such as corruption, free welfare schemes, and civic mismanagement.
Gandhi also criticized the AAP for its silence on the issue of a caste census and promised to conduct a caste survey if the Congress were to form the government in Delhi. The AAP, seeking a third consecutive term, and the BJP, aiming to regain power, are both intensifying their campaigns as the election date approaches.
