Cracks in I.N.D.I.A?: Cong to contest all 7 LS seats of Delhi, says Alka Lamba; AAP reacts strongly

New Delhi: In first signs of rumblings & trouble within the newly formed I.N.D.I.A bloc, the Congress party on Wednesday decided to contest elections on all seven Lok Sabha seats of the national capital, thereby throwing cold water on probable AAP-Congress tie-up in Delhi.

Congress leader Alka Lamba, speaking to reporters said that the top leadership in marathon meet on Delhi election strategy decided that the party will field candidates on all seats.

“About 40 leaders put forth their views in meeting. After three-hour long meet, it was decided that party will fight polls on all Parliamentary seats” Lamba told reporters.

#WATCH तीन घंटे तक चली बैठक में राहुल गांधी, कांग्रेस के राष्ट्रीय अध्यक्ष मल्लिकार्जुन खरगे, के.सी. वेणुगोपाल और दीपक बाबरिया मौजूद थे। संगठन को मज़बूत करने, आगामी लोकसभा चुनाव की तैयारी करने पर बात हुई। 7 महीने और 7 सीटें(दिल्ली लोकसभा) हैं। सभी सीटों पर हर नेता को आज से अभी से… pic.twitter.com/SDS293NlLl

— ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) August 16, 2023

AAP’s rejoinder to Cong LS plan

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was quick to reply on Cong’s assertions and its unambiguous rejoinder gives good indication that their alliance in Delhi, in particular, is on the rocks.

AAP’s national spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar, responding to Alka Lamba’s claims, said, “If Congress has already decided to not form an alliance with us, then it is of no use for us to attend the next ‘INDIA’ alliance meeting. Our top leadership will decide whether or not we’ll attend the next meeting”.

VIDEO | “If Congress has already decided to not form an alliance with us, then it is of no use for us to attend the next ‘INDIA’ alliance meeting. Our top leadership will decide whether or not we’ll attend the next meeting,” says AAP leader @PKakkar_ on Congress leader Alka… pic.twitter.com/9fuewvuta4

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 16, 2023

Delhi minister Saurabh Bhardwaj also said,”Our central leadership will decide this…Our political affairs committee and INDIA parties will sit together and discuss this (poll alliance)”.

For the unversed, AAP and Congress have been at the odds for quite sometime, with Delhi Services Bill in the centre of discord. AAP wanted the grand old party to support this bill whole-heartedly while the latter dithered. Though, after some cajoling & coaxing by the opposition bloc, Congress rallied behind Kejriwal-led party, they failed in stalling the bill from passage.

BJP’s jibe at ‘Ghamandiya’ alliance

BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan took swipe at the ‘Ghamandiya’ alliance and predicted its ‘downfall & collapse’ before the 2024 elections alone.

He said that the bloc was made just to disrupt House proceedings and it’s motive & real ambitions are now coming to fore.

अब कांग्रेस दिल्ली की 7 लोकसभा सीटों पर चुनाव लड़ने की बात कर रही है। साफ है कि आम आदमी पार्टी ने दिल्ली में कांग्रेस के पैरों से दरी खींच ली है। ‘घमंडिया गठबंधन’ की तरफ से ये अभी पहला रुझान है। आगे कांग्रेस को यूपी में सपा, बंगाल में तृणमूल कांग्रेस, बिहार में RJD-JDU के साथ भी… https://t.co/Jk5HTveIcW

— Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) August 16, 2023