Growing rift between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has escalated into open hostility, with AAP now indicating to seek Congress&rsquo; removal from the INDIA bloc. 
AAP leaders on Thursday expressed their dissatisfaction with Congress, citing &ldquo;deep resentment&rdquo; within the party ranks. They announced plans to consult other partners of the bloc to exclude Congress from the alliance. This comes amidst rising tensions and accusations from both sides, further weakening the opposition bloc.
The tension escalated during the Winter session of Parliament when murmurs arose about changing the leadership of the INDIA bloc, with some including RJD chief Lalu Prasad suggesting Mamata Banerjee to take over.
The INDIA bloc, comprising parties like the Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, RJD, DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), and AAP, face a crucial test of unity. AAP&rsquo;s decision to hold talks with its allies could deepen the ongoing crisis.
Adding fuel to the fire, several Congress leaders in Delhi have openly targeted AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal. Congress National Treasurer and Rajya Sabha MP Ajay Maken accused Kejriwal of corruption and administrative failure.
Maken&rsquo;s allegations included mismanagement during the COVID-19 pandemic and unfulfilled promises like implementing the Jan Lokpal Bill.
He remarked, &ldquo;Even after 3,652 days, the Jan Lokpal has not been implemented, despite these people coming to power on the promise of enacting it&rdquo; questioning, &ldquo;Why have they not implemented the Jan Lokpal in Punjab, where they have complete autonomy?&rdquo;
&ldquo;During the pandemic, when people were dying, Arvind Kejriwal spent crores on a luxurious bungalow. Even after 11 years, ration cards have not been issued to thousands of families in Delhi,&rdquo; Maken said.
He also claimed that funds meant for welfare schemes were wasted on advertising campaigns.
AAP has dismissed these allegations as baseless and has now decided to raise this issue with other constituent parties of the INDIA bloc.
Furthermore, in response to Maken&rsquo;s accusations, AAP also issued a stern ultimatum to the Congress, demanding action against its Delhi leader Ajay Maken within 24 hours. It warned that the party would push for the Congress&rsquo; removal from the alliance. 
At a press conference in New Delhi, AAP leaders Delhi Chief Minister Atishi and Sanjay Singh, demanded clarification from the Congress leadership and immediate disciplinary measures against Maken. Accusing him of making anti-AAP statements, they alleged that Maken has been acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
&ldquo;Ajay Maken crossed all limits on Wednesday by calling Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi&rsquo;s most popular leader, anti-national,&rdquo; Singh said.
He further accused the Congress of orchestrating smear campaigns against the AAP in collusion with the BJP, adding that the Youth Congress has even filed a complaint against Kejriwal and CM Atishi.
Singh claimed that in the Lok Sabha elections, AAP campaigned for Congress candidates as part of the INDIA bloc&rsquo;s strategy, yet Congress has been working against the alliance&rsquo;s spirit.
&ldquo;It appears that Congress&rsquo; candidates list in Delhi comes directly from the BJP office. Funds for their candidates are also allegedly provided by the BJP,&rdquo; he alleged.
Doubling down on the allegations, Atishi stated that sources have revealed BJP funding for Congress candidates in Delhi. &ldquo;Sandeep Dikshit and the Congress candidate from Jangpura, Farhad Suri, are receiving BJP support. It&rsquo;s now evident that Congress has a nexus with BJP in Delhi elections,&rdquo; she claimed.
&ldquo;Ajay Maken&rsquo;s baseless and outrageous allegation of calling Arvind Kejriwal anti-national reflects Congress&rsquo; true intentions. Has Congress ever made such claims against the BJP? If Congress doesn&rsquo;t act against Maken, AAP will urge other INDIA bloc partners to expel Congress from the alliance.&rdquo;
&ldquo;AAP will not tolerate attempts to weaken our position in Delhi or undermine the INDIA bloc&rsquo;s mission. Congress must decide if it wants to stand with the alliance or against it,&rdquo; Atishi asserted.
&mdash;IANS

AAP leaders Sanjay Singh (left) & Delhi CM Atishi (right) at the press conference on Thursday

Cracks emerge in national alliance after Cong MP Ajay Maken accuses Kejriwal of corruption, admin failure

AAP to Push for Congress Ouster from India Bloc?

Cracks emerge in national alliance after Cong MP Ajay Maken accuses Kejriwal of corruption, admin failure

December 26, 2024 | 17:34 IST