Arvind Kejriwal announces AAP’s bid for all Punjab Lok Sabha seats, BJP sees INDIA bloc weakening
Arvind Kejriwal stated that the party will unveil candidates for these constituencies within the next 10 to 15 days.
Arvind Kejriwal announced on Saturday that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will vie for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, along with one seat in Chandigarh, effectively signaling the end of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance in the state.
“Two years ago, you bestowed your blessings upon us. You granted us 92 out of 117 seats in the Assembly elections, marking a historic moment for Punjab. Today, I humbly come before you, seeking your support once again. In just two months, the Lok Sabha elections will commence. Punjab holds 13 seats, and Chandigarh contributes one, totaling 14 seats. Within the next 10-15 days, AAP will unveil its candidates for all these 14 seats. I urge you to empower AAP to secure victory in all 14 seats with a resounding majority,” he expressed at a gathering on Saturday.
Arvind Kejriwal delivered the announcement during his speech to a crowd in Khanna, Punjab.
In the preceding month, Punjab’s Chief Minister, Bhagwant Mann, had declared that his party would compete for all 13 seats in Punjab.
Today, Mann criticized the Congress, asserting that the party has diminished its influence in the state.
The comments imply that the discussions between AAP and the Congress regarding seat allocation have not advanced.
The two parties, long-standing adversaries in Punjab and Delhi, joined forces to contest the Chandigarh mayoral elections last month, hinting at a possible extension of their alliance to the Lok Sabha elections. However, Kejriwal’s statement suggests that they might now confront the BJP and SAD in Punjab, setting the stage for a four-way electoral battle.
BJP takes sharp jibe at Rahul Gandhi, INDIA bloc
In response to the declaration, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla remarked that the INDIA coalition is disintegrating.
“Another setback for the INDI alliance… Today, Arvind Kejriwal declared that AAP will independently contest 13 seats in Punjab and one in Chandigarh. This implies that the INDI Alliance won’t compete there, as there won’t be any alliance formed…The foundation of the INDI Alliance is crumbling…It lacks a clear mission or vision, instead focusing on commission, corruption, confusion, and contradiction. Rahul Gandhi’s Nyay Yatra is perplexing; it seems more like a ‘farewell tour’ than a Nyay Yatra. He should have initiated an ‘INDI unification tour’ instead,” he stated.
More trouble for INDIA bloc
Kejriwal’s declaration deals a new setback to the embattled INDIA coalition, established last year with the aim of challenging the BJP’s dominance in the Lok Sabha elections. The faction, led by Mallikarjun Kharge, has recently witnessed the departure of its two key regional leaders — Nitish Kumar and Mamata Banerjee.
Kumar aligned with the BJP after breaking ties with his ally RJD, alleging that the Congress sought to seize control of the leadership within the INDIA coalition. Banerjee asserted that the Congress stalled discussions on seat-sharing and dismissed her proposal.
Although Rahul Gandhi continues to regard Banerjee as part of the Congress party’s INDIA coalition, her Trinamool has been openly criticizing the party.
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