In the aftermath of the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi, internal conflict in the Congress has come to light. A report submitted by a fact-finding committee to the Congress President reveals that the party’s candidates hold the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) responsible for their electoral defeat. Taking note of these findings, the Congress has decided not to pursue an alliance with the AAP for the upcoming Delhi and Haryana assembly elections.
Three Congress candidates – Udit Raj, JP Aggarwal, and Kanhaiya Kumar – asserted that the AAP did not support their campaigns or facilitate vote transfers in their favour. These candidates conveyed to the committee that they had anticipated the AAP’s backing would be crucial to securing their victory.
Congress leader Udit Raj said, “The AAP declared their candidates in February and started campaigning. We announced our candidates by March. Despite AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal telling the party workers to campaign for us, they didn’t. I think they were of the opinion that immediately after the Lok Sabha election, there is Delhi assembly election in less than 10 months. Asking for votes for the Congress will bring down their chances in the Delhi assembly elections. Not just the AAP, even some local leaders within the Congress were against their own candidate. They maligned my image, which made me lose a seat which I had a chance to win.”
THE RIFT WITHIN CONGRESS CAMP
However, the committee’s observations suggest a deeper issue in the Congress camp. It was noted that the candidates’ reliance on the AAP’s support alienated the Congress cadre. Party workers were reportedly displeased with the expectation that the AAP would ensure their success, leading to lack of enthusiasm and engagement in the campaign efforts.
This dissatisfaction among Congress workers appears to have significantly impacted the party’s performance in the elections. The over-dependence on the AAP’s support not only failed to yield the desired results, but also caused rifts within the party’s own ranks, further diminishing their chances at the polls.
ASSEMBLY POLL POSITION
The strategic decision for Delhi and Haryana assembly elections aims to prevent similar internal conflicts and looks to strengthen the party’s campaign efforts. By choosing to go solo, the Congress hopes to revitalise its grassroots support and re-engage its cadre, ensuring that the party’s campaign is driven by its own resources and efforts rather than relying on external alliances.
As the assembly elections approach, the Congress’s decision to go it alone will be a critical test of its ability to recover from the Lok Sabha debacle and reassert itself as a significant political force in Delhi and Haryana.
The coming months will reveal whether this strategy pays off and how it reshapes the political landscape in these regions.
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