Arvind Kejriwal Rules Out Alliance with Congress for Delhi Elections, AAP to Contest Alone

In a firm statement, Arvind Kejriwal, the chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has confirmed that his party will contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections independently, ruling out any possibility of an alliance with the Congress. Despite being part of the INDIA opposition bloc, Kejriwal dismissed speculations of a coalition with Congress for the Delhi polls, reiterating that AAP would fight for a third consecutive term in the capital on its own.

The Delhi elections, scheduled for early 2024, are expected to be a significant political battle, with the BJP intensifying efforts to expand its influence in the city-state. Kejriwal, who has led AAP to victory in the last two assembly elections (2015 and 2020), is determined to maintain his party's dominance. His decision comes despite AAP and Congress fighting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections together, where both parties failed to secure any seats, leading to a rethink about joining forces for the assembly elections.

Earlier this month, Kejriwal had clearly stated that AAP would contest independently, signaling a potential fracture in the INDIA bloc, which aims to unite opposition parties against the BJP. Congress, on the other hand, has also decided to go solo, with Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav confirming that the party will fight all 70 assembly seats on its own, calling the previous tie-up with AAP a “mistake.”