Argument On Congress Ditching Alliance In Delhi
New Delhi: Following the crushing defeat of the AAP in Delhi, many are blaming the Congress party, holding it accountable for not joining hands with the AAP as an INDIA bloc leading party. The criticism has been with more fervor given the increase in Congress vote share in many constituencies.
Several leaders in the INDIA Bloc claim that it was Congress’ responsibility to make AAP win as a leading member of the bloc. The key bloc members, including the TMC and SP, had backed the AAP—both have no major vote bank in Delhi—for the assembly elections, cornering the Congress party, claiming that the ruling AAP was the only capable party to take on the saffron threat in the national capital. But the Congress, after the AAP did not agree with its seat-sharing proposal, chose to go alone while unleashing a campaign against the Arvind Kejriwal-led party.
Many believe the Congress’s decision to go solo in the Delhi polls to be not a good strategy, as the party has been in a weakened state in Delhi and if it had compromised, the AAP could have been won the elections. The Congress had polled more than AAP’s losing margin in several constituencies, and the absence of an alliance helped the BJP emerge victorious.
Read Also: Congress Polled More Than AAP’s Losing Margin In All These Seats
As the Congress is being blamed for the AAP’s loss, many are questioning the arguments, noting that those who slam Congress did not give these lectures on opposition unity to AAP when the party went to Goa, Gujarat, and Haryana to contest against the Congress and weaken anti-communal, secular votes.
Congress leader Pawan Khera called the Delhi election result a rejection of the Trojan horse that attempted to damage the liberal cause across the country. “The meltdown of a section of so-called liberals is completely bizarre. They didn’t give these lectures on opposition unity to AAP when the party went to Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, etc., to fight elections and weaken anti-communal, secular votes,” Khera wrote in an X post, noting that the meltdown of a section of so-called liberals is “completely bizarre.”
Read Also: Future Of INDIA Bloc: What Delhi Results Show
“The majority of liberals are rightly cheering the fall of the facade so that the real champion of liberal values—the Indian National Congress—can emerge stronger to take on the BJP and defeat it,” the Congress leader added.
The meltdown of a section of so called liberals is completely bizarre. They didn’t give these lectures on opposition unity to AAP when the party went to Goa, Gujarat, Haryana etc to fight elections and weaken anti communal, secular vote.
Delhi election result is a rejection of…
— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) February 8, 2025
Journalist Swati Chaturvedi asked why the “obligated” liberals are blaming the Congress party for the INDIA bloc’s demise, calling the alliance dead. She asserted that the Congress has a pan-India footprint, asking, “Why should it roll over and play dead for every regional rival?”
Read Also: What Happened To The Muslim Votes In Delhi?
Referring to AAP’s decision to contest elections alone in other states such as Goa, Punjab, Haryana, and Gujarat, the journalist asked, “Did Kejriwal have any sense of managing an ally when he did an OTT diss of the Cong. Why don’t these people preach to pal Kejri? Obligated much? Political parties exist only to win elections & power.”
The INDIA ALLIANCE is dead but unclear why “obligated” liberals are blaming the Cong for the demise. The INC still has a pan India footprint why should it roll over & play dead for every regional rival? Did AAP not contest Goa, Punjab, Haryana & Gujarat? Did Kejriwal have any…
— Swati Chaturvedi (@bainjal) February 9, 2025
After the Delhi election was declared, the Congress had called it a referendum on Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. There are talks that the Congress would capitalize on the loss of the AAP as the party increased its vote share compared to the previous elections. However, the future of the INDIA bloc hangs in the balance, especially for the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. The bloc’s existence has been increasingly questioned following the Delhi Assembly Election result.
The disintegration of the anti-BJP votes continues to be a major contribution for the saffron rise, despite the Lok Sabha elections showed the strength of the INDIA bloc.
