Kejriwal Ends AAP's Alliance With Congress in Gujarat

Ahmedabad, Jul 3 (PTI): Aam Aadmi Party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal announced on Thursday the end of his party’s alliance with the Congress, accusing it of aiding the ruling BJP in Gujarat.

Kejriwal clarified that the Congress-led INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) coalition of opposition parties was formed solely for the Lok Sabha elections last year.

Speaking at a press conference in Ahmedabad, the former Delhi chief minister emphasized that his party intends to contest the 2027 Gujarat assembly elections, providing an alternative to the BJP and Congress for the state's populace.

“There is no alliance with Congress,” Kejriwal stated. “If there had been any alliance, why would Congress contest the Visavadar bypoll? They aimed to defeat us. The BJP used Congress to cut into AAP’s votes.”

He added, “The BJP reprimanded Congress when they failed. The INDIA bloc was just for Lok Sabha polls, and from our side, there is now no alliance.”

AAP’s Gopal Italia secured victory in the Visavadar by-election in Junagadh district last month, defeating BJP’s Kirit Patel by over 17,000 votes. Congress candidate Nitin Ranpariya was third with 5,501 votes.

Kejriwal accused the BJP of misgoverning Gujarat for 30 years and criticized Congress for failing as an opposition, alleging it helps the BJP maintain power.

“Every societal section, from farmers to youths to the middle class, is discontented with the BJP. With unemployment persisting, over half of the positions remain vacant, and jobs are primarily contractual. Despite this, the BJP continues to win elections because alternatives were unavailable,” Kejriwal asserted.

“Voters questioned whom to support to defeat the BJP, with everyone realizing Congress was not a viable challenge. Essentially, Congress was contracted to ensure the BJP's victory in each election, a role it fulfills diligently,” added Kejriwal.

The recent bypoll in Visavadar has positioned AAP as a credible alternative, raising public hopes for change, according to Kejriwal.

He announced that AAP cadres will campaign extensively across Gujarat, engaging directly with the public over the next two and a half years to persuade them for the 2027 elections.

“We are launching 'Gujarat Jodo Abhiyan' today, inviting people to join AAP by giving a missed call. Our members will reach every household. AAP, a youth-oriented party, encourages young people desiring a corruption-free Gujarat to join us in large numbers,” he stated.

In the 182-member Gujarat assembly, the BJP holds 162 seats, Congress 12, and AAP 5, with one seat held by the Samajwadi Party and two independents.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)