New Delhi: In another blow to the opposition INDIA bloc, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced its intention to field candidates for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, signalling a clear departure from any potential alliance with the Congress in the state. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal revealed this decision on Saturday, confirming that the party would contest all 13 seats in Punjab along with 1 seat in Chandigarh.
This move by the Delhi chief minister adds to the internal turmoil within the opposition coalition, which is already grappling with challenges following Mamata Banerjee’s assertion that her Trinamool Congress will independently contest in West Bengal.
Moreover, the bloc has recently suffered a setback with Janata Dal (United) President Nitish Kumar’s defection to the BJP-led NDA last month, further denting its unity. The situation in Uttar Pradesh remains uncertain, with indications of a potential agreement between the Samajwadi Party and the Congress.
However, speculation is rife about another INDIA ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal led by Jayant Chaudhary, aligning with the NDA. The speculation intensified after the government announced the posthumous conferment of the Bharat Ratna on former Prime Minister Chaudhary Charan Singh, Jayant Chaudhary’s grandfather.