AAP-Congress Alliance: Could They Have Won Delhi Together?

AAP-Congress Alliance: In a twist of fate, the BJP’s lotus bloomed in the national capital in the Delhi Assembly elections. BJP defeated the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and marked its return to power after 27 years. AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal lost to BJP’s Parvesh Verma by a margin of 4,089 votes. It was a stunning blow to the ruling party; it will surely shatter the party’s core. But someone else played an even more crucial role in sealing Kejriwal’s fate in Delhi. Yes, it’s his INDIA bloc ally, Congress.

AAP-Congress Alliance: Impact On Kejriwal’s Loss

In the New Delhi constituency, where Arvind Kejriwal contested and lost, Congress candidate Sandeep Dikshit finished a distant third with 4,568 votes. He is the son of former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. If Congress and AAP fought the polls in alliance, only Arvind Kejriwal or Sandeep Dikshit would have been fielded. If they fielded Arvind Kejriwal, he would most likely have received the 4,568 votes that Sandeep Dikshit got. This would have raised his tally from 25,999 to 30,567. Which is about 479 votes more than Parvesh Verma’s share, and Kejriwal would have won the New Delhi seat.

Shifted Political Landscape

AAP and Congress are allies in the INDIA bloc. But they turned rivals for the Delhi Assembly polls. They fought the Lok Sabha polls together in Delhi but decided to go solo in the state elections. This move ultimately benefited neither of the parties. AAP was confident of winning due to its past landslide victories in 2015 and 2020—when it won 67 and 62 seats, respectively. But, they failed to recognize that the political landscape had shifted.

AAP-Congress Alliance: Political Fallout Benefitted BJP

The fallout between the INDIA bloc allies was evident during the campaign, as AAP and Congress repeatedly jibed at each other. Kejriwal alleged that Congress deceived the people of Delhi, just like the BJP. Congress hit back by attacking AAP over the ‘Sheesh Mahal’ row, the Delhi excise policy case, and its failure to clean the Yamuna River. This division left the BJP unchallenged in its path to victory.

Major Setbacks For AAP

Kejriwal’s loss in the New Delhi seat was just one of many major setbacks for the AAP. Because many other key AAP leaders, including Saurabh Bharadwaj, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Durgesh Pathak, also lost the election and failed to retain their constituencies. Going to jail in the liquor policy case also didn’t help Kejriwal, Sisodia, and Satyendra Jain to move people’s sentiments. This election result marks a dramatic shift in Delhi’s political landscape, bringing to an abrupt end the AAP’s decade-long rule.

Delhi Elections: Arvind Kejriwal Faces Humiliating Defeat, Says This!

Kejriwal’s Response

After the poll debacle, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal accepted his party’s defeat and congratulated the BJP for securing a sweeping mandate. “We humbly acknowledge the people’s decision. I extend my congratulations to the BJP on their victory and sincerely hope they honor the promises that have earned the people’s trust,” Kejriwal expressed in a video message.

Despite the poll debacle, Kejriwal assured that they would remain active in Delhi’s political landscape. He said they will be taking on the role of constructive opposition while continuing to serve the people.