The Opposition alliance, INDIA, seems to be crumbling as the rift between Congress and AAP widens over Delhi Parliamentary election.
AAP has said there was no point in having the INDIA alliance if the Congress has made up its mind to go solo in Delhi for the Lok Sabha polls.
The Congress and AAP are part of the opposition grouping Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
AAP chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said its top leadership will take a call on attending the Mumbai meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA, following the statement of Congress leader Alka Lamba.
Congress leaders from Delhi on Wednesday held a meeting with the party's top leadership to review its preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections and discussed ways and means to strengthen the organisation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi, who were present at the meeting, asked the party leaders to remain united and connected with people, PTI reported.
After the meeting, Lamba said they have been given orders to contest on all seven (Lok Sabha) seats in Delhi.
Following her statement, Kakkar said if the Congress wants to fight alone in Delhi, there is no point in attending the INDIA alliance meeting.
"If Congress has made up its mind to fight elections alone in Delhi, there is no point of the INDIA alliance,” Kakkar was quoted as having said.
"The final decision to attend the next meeting of the INDIA alliance will be taken by the party's top leadership. It was the Congress which approached AAP for forming an alliance in Delhi since they do not have an existence in Delhi," Kakkar said.
Congress clarifies:
After AAP's statement, Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhary clarified that Wednesday's meeting was not on alliance formation in Delhi and nothing was discussed about it.
"AAP can make assumptions but the decision on alliance will be taken by the AICC central leadership and it will be announced by them. We, as an opposition party here, will raise questions about corruption," he said.
The next meeting of the opposition alliance is slated to be held in Mumbai on August 31 and September 1.
Coming together of Congress and AAP:
Earlier, Delhi Services Bill had brought both the Congress and the AAP together against BJP.
The contentious issue of control over Group-A and DANICS officers in the Delhi government had been a source of conflict between the AAP-led Delhi government and the Centre.
Both parties had taken action by issuing whips to their respective MPs to be present inside Parliament.
Both parties had voiced their concerns over the bill. They had accused the BJP-led central government of trying to forcibly strip Delhi of its rights.
Both parties under the umbrella of India had taken a united stand against the bill. Both parties had claimed that the opposition against the bill was essential to safeguard democracy.
After the bill was passed by the government in Parliament, both the parties -- Congress and AAP -- had called it a dangerous assault on the country's constitution.
Both parties had accused the Centre of infringing on the rights of the elected government and emphasised the importance of keeping the central and state governments' separate.
Under the umbrella of a united Opposition, both parties had termed the move dictatorial.
Has Opposition alliance started to crumble?
As AAP seems anguished over Congress's plan to contest Delhi Parliamentary elections solo, the move could have wider implications. It could even sink the opposition’s ship before the commencement of its journey for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The Opposition under the umbrella of INDIA have been stressing on all like-minded parties in the country to fight against the “dictatorial regime” which as per them is ripping the country’s secular credentials.
The seat sharing among different political parties in INDIA could be a major issue and could tear apart the alliance if not addressed by the Opposition parties among themselves.
