NEW DELHI: As the Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party gave its support to Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party for upcoming Delhi assembly elections, Congress on Wednesday gave a disclaimer to its allies saying the party “is sacrificing so many things” for the INDIA bloc.
Reacting to Akhilesh Yadav’s recent remark that he was supporting AAP over Congress in Delhi because “it is stronger”, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said, “We respect the sentiments of all INDIA alliance parties. But they should also understand that Congress is sacrificing so many things for INDIA alliance.”
“We are also fighting as a political party in Delhi. Our fight is very clear and strong,” Venugopal told news agency ANI.
Earlier in the day while asserting that the INDIA bloc was intact, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav had said that he was supporting AAP over Congress in Delhi because it is stronger and the common aim is to defeat the BJP.
“The INDIA alliance is intact. I remember, when the alliance was being formed, Nitish Kumar had talked to leaders of all parties including ours. He had said at the time that we should strengthen the hands of a regional party wherever it is strong. AAP is strong in Delhi, so we are supporting it,” the SP chief.
“We must support whichever party is strong and in a position to give a fight to BJP. In Delhi, AAP and Congress are facing each other… My advice is AAP is strong so we should all support it. After all, our common goal is the defeat of BJP, whether it is Congress, Samajwadi Party or AAP,” Akhilesh Yadav said.
On the same day, Trinamool Congress also extended its support to AAP. TMC general secretary and MP, Abhishek Banerjee questioned, “Why should we help the BJP by not supporting AAP?”
“When the INDIA alliance was formed, we decided that wherever the regional parties are strong, let them take the fight against BJP. For example DMK in Tamil Nadu, JMM in Jharkhand. So in Delhi, who do you think can beat the BJP? It’s AAP. So why shall I not support the party that can defeat the BJP? Ultimately that’s the cause. Why shall we help the BJP by not supporting AAP?” Abhishek Banerjee said.
Despite being allies in INDIA bloc, Congress and AAP are fighting the Delhi elections solo. With Congress struggling to regain its footing in Delhi, where it has been out of power since 2013, the growing tensions within the INDIA bloc are casting doubts on its ability to present a united front. AAP, buoyed by its stronghold in the capital, has accused Congress of aiding the BJP by targeting its party chief, Arvind Kejriwal.
