The Congress party has pointed fingers at its ally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), for their defeat in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Delhi. The electoral alliance between the two parties failed to secure any seats, while the BJP emerged victorious, winning all seven constituencies for the third consecutive time.
Congress leader Abhishek Dutt attributed their loss to the AAPās involvement in an excise scam. He highlighted that the Congress had exposed the scam and demanded a thorough investigation. However, despite filing the case 18 months ago, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took no action. Surprisingly, just one month before the Lok Sabha polls, they arrested Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
Dutt emphasized that the excise scam had a detrimental impact on their electoral prospects. He stated, āIf we had not contested the elections with AAP, Congress might have secured more seats.ā The scandal led to the loss of credibility for both parties, affecting their performance in the polls.
Dutt didnāt stop there. He criticized AAP leaders, including Satyendar Kumar Jain and Manish Sisodia, who faced arrests due to their alleged involvement in the scam. Additionally, he targeted Delhi Minister Atishi, who staged a fast demanding additional water supply from neighboring Haryana. According to Dutt, such theatrics by AAP leaders contributed to their electoral setback.
This isnāt the first instance of tension between Congress and AAP. Despite their joint efforts, the electoral outcome left both parties reeling. Delhi Congress Chief Devender Yadav had previously slammed AAP over waterlogging issues during heavy rains, accusing the Delhi government of negligence.
As the political landscape evolves, both parties must reflect on their strategies and alliances. The blame game continues, but the voters have spoken, and the challenge lies in regaining their trust.
