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

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared on Wednesday that his party will contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Delhi independently, firmly ruling out any alliance with the Congress.

Dispelling rumors of a potential collaboration, Kejriwal took to X to confirm AAP’s stance. “Aam Aadmi party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress,” he wrote.

Speculations had been rife about a possible tie-up between the two parties to challenge the BJP in the national capital. Reports suggested that Congress and AAP were close to finalizing an alliance, but Kejriwal has decisively ended such discussions, asserting that AAP does not require the Congress’ support.

This isn’t the first time Kejriwal has dismissed the idea of partnering with the Congress. Previously, he had explicitly ruled out any collaboration in the Delhi Assembly elections, a sentiment echoed by the Congress. Devender Yadav, chief of the Delhi Pradesh Congress, had announced that the party would contest all 70 Assembly seats independently.

Despite these clear declarations, rumors of an alliance persisted until Kejriwal’s recent announcement put them to rest.

This decision aligns with AAP’s broader strategy. Before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Kejriwal ruled out an alliance with the Congress in Punjab, committing to contesting all 13 parliamentary seats independently. Similarly, no seat-sharing agreement was reached between the two parties for the Haryana Assembly elections.

Kejriwal’s AAP has ramped up its campaign for the Delhi elections, positioning it as a people’s referendum on the party’s governance. On Tuesday, Kejriwal introduced five guarantees for autorickshaw drivers in the city, including a Rs 10 lakh life insurance scheme, Rs 1 lakh assistance for daughters’ weddings, Rs 2,500 uniform allowance twice a year on Holi and Diwali, and free coaching for children of auto drivers preparing for competitive exams.

So far, AAP has announced 31 candidates for the upcoming elections, signaling its readiness to fight the polls solo.