AAP-Congress rift deepens ahead of Delhi polls, INDIA bloc in crisis

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the Congress, demanding action against senior leader Ajay Maken over remarks against Arvind Kejriwal and accusations of anti-national behavior. The escalating tensions have cast a shadow on the INDIA bloc’s unity just ahead of the critical Delhi elections.

The rift widened after the Congress filed a complaint accusing Kejriwal of misleading the public with promises of “non-existent” welfare schemes, including the Mahila Samman Yojana and Sanjeevani Yojana. Two Delhi government departments had earlier clarified that these schemes were yet to be notified, prompting the Youth Congress to lodge an official complaint against the AAP leader.

Addressing the media, AAP MP Sanjay Singh accused Ajay Maken of playing into the BJP's hands by labeling Kejriwal "anti-national." He warned that if the Congress failed to act against Maken within 24 hours, the AAP would consult other INDIA bloc members about removing the Congress from the alliance. Chief Minister Atishi further alleged that the Congress’s actions were coordinated with the BJP to weaken the AAP in Delhi.

“Congress is working to help BJP win Delhi. Ajay Maken is reading from the BJP's script,” Singh stated. Atishi went on to claim that BJP was funding Congress candidates, including Sandeep Dikshit, to undermine AAP’s campaign. She questioned the Congress's motives, given its past alliances with the AAP for Lok Sabha elections.

Congress leader Ajay Maken has fueled the fire by asserting that supporting AAP in 2013 was a strategic mistake that led to the Congress's decline in Delhi. He also criticized the AAP's governance record and called for the Congress to rectify its earlier alignment.

The ultimatum comes at a time when AAP has already announced its intention to contest the Delhi elections solo. The party is aiming for a fourth consecutive term in the state assembly, but the ongoing friction within the opposition alliance could complicate its path. The INDIA bloc now faces a critical test of its cohesion as the AAP presses for decisive action.