Congress Sidelined In INDIA Bloc? 3 Big Players Back Arvind Kejriwal's AAP For Delhi Polls

New Delhi: The Grand Old Congress party, dubbed as the leader of the opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, seems to have been sidelined by its allies. AAP had contested the Lok Sabha polls in alliance with the Congress, successfully putting up a united front against BJP-led NDA. However, in just 6 months the two parties have turned foes.

No electoral alliance has been formed in Delhi and the national capital is bracing for a three-way contest between AAP, Congress and the BJP this time. Several big players of the opposition bloc including Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party, and Mamata Banerje's Trinamool Congress have announced their support for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Delhi assembly elections.

Polling for the 70-member Delhi Assembly will take place on February 5 and the votes counted on February 8.

TMC's Rajya Sabha Parliamentary party leader Derek O'Brien said, "We have your back, Aam Aadmi Party". On this, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said, "TMC has announced support to AAP in Delhi elections. I am personally grateful to Mamta Didi. Thank you Didi. You have always supported and blessed us in our good and bad times."

This comes a day after Samajwadi Party (SP), another member of the INDIA bloc, announed its support to AAP. "Thank you very much Akhilesh ji. You always support and accompany us. For this I and the people of Delhi are grateful," Kejriwal said in a post on X on Tuesday.

On AAP and Congress contesting the Delhi assembly elections separately, Tejashwi Yadav said that the INDIA bloc was only functional for the Lok Sabha elections. He said that it was pre-decided that the parties will contest the respective assembly elections according to their strengths.

“It was already decided from before that the INDI Alliance was for Lok Sabha polls only," Tejashwi told reporters. Tejashwi Yadav-led Rashtriya Janata Dal is also a part of the INDIA bloc.

The AAP has accused Congress of colluding with the BJP for Delhi elections, adding that it will push for the grand old party's expulsion from the alliance. The parties of the alliance have also raised questions on Congress' capability in regards with leading the group.

INDIA bloc parties including Samajwadi Party and RJD have also backed Mamata Banerjee to lead the group. After Mamata Banerjee said that if given a chance, she would ensure smooth functioning of the INDIA bloc, Lalu Yadav had said that his party will support Mamata. It is being speculated that the Congress is underpressure to pass on the leadership role to Banerjee.

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