Can Arvind Kejriwal Win Delhi Polls Without Congress Alliance?

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.

Gesher Group Consulting

"Is Arvind Kejriwal's Stand Against Alliance with Congress a Smart Political Move for Delhi Polls?"

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 Kejriwal to rethink joining hands with Congress in the assembly polls.

This isn't the first time AAP has thumbed its nose at the opposition alliance. Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Kejriwal had ruled out a tie-up with the Congress in Punjab and announced that his party would contest all 13 seats on its own. The two parties had also failed to reach a seat-sharing arrangement for the Haryana assembly polls.

The Delhi Assembly polls will decide the fate of the 70-member legislature, where the AAP currently holds 62 seats. The ruling party recently announced its first list of 11 candidates, which includes six leaders who switched from the BJP and Congress.