Arvind Kejriwal says 'no possibility of alliance' with Congress for Delhi polls

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal categorically ruled out any possibility of an alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections, reaffirming that his party will contest the polls "on its own strength".

In Short

• Arvind Kejriwal reiterates that AAP will contest Delhi elections alone
• AAP chief dismisses reports of seat-sharing talks with Congress
• AAP and Congress failed to win together in Lok Sabha elections

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday reiterated that his party would contest the upcoming Delhi assembly elections on its own, firmly dismissing speculation about a possible alliance with the Congress.

"Aam Aadmi Party will be fighting this election on its own strength in Delhi. There is no possibility of any alliance with Congress,” Kejriwal posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Kejriwal’s statement follows reports suggesting that AAP was in the final stages of negotiating a seat-sharing arrangement with Congress for the Delhi elections.

This is not the first time the AAP leader has ruled out a tie-up with Congress despite being part of the INDIA opposition bloc. Earlier this month, Kejriwal stated unequivocally that the party would not forge any alliances for the Delhi assembly polls as it eyes a third consecutive term.

The AAP has been in power in Delhi since 2015. The upcoming assembly polls, slated to be held early next year, will likely test the ruling party's governance credentials against the BJP’s efforts to expand its influence in the city-state.

The INDIA bloc, a coalition of 26 opposition parties, had been hoping to consolidate anti-BJP votes in the capital, but Kejriwal’s stance signals a potential fracture in unity.

AAP and Congress fought the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi together earlier this year. Both parties drew a blank, with the BJP winning all seats, which might have led both parties to rethink joining hands in the assembly polls.

Delhi Congress President Devender Yadav admitted as much, calling the tie-up with AAP "a mistake" and asserting that the Congress will contest all 70 assembly seats in the city on its own.

"The decision on going solo was taken after the Lok Sabha results and the official position of the party is even now very clear that we will fight on all 70 seats by ourselves and there will be no alliance," Yadav said last month.

The decision sets the stage for a triangular contest in the Delhi assembly polls, with AAP, Congress, and BJP vying for power. In the past two assembly elections in 2015 and 2020, AAP won 67 and 62 seats respectively, while the BJP secured three and eight seats in the 70-member legislature. The Congress drew a blank in both elections.