Former Minister Ashwani Kumar: ‘AAP and Cong can join hands to achieve larger political objective of defeating BJP’

BJP and SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) are possibly going to form an alliance.

4 min readChandigarh Updated: Aug 8, 2023 10:58 AM IST

Former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar. (Express)

Listen to this article

Your browser does not support the audio element.

An alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress can be formed, especially in Punjab, “to achieve the larger political objective” of defeating the BJP-led NDA, former Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar has said. Kumar, who resigned from the Congress just days before Punjab went to polls last year, however, also warned that such an alliance is difficult as both parties are competing for the same political space.

His remarks come at a time when AAP’s Gujarat unit has announced that it will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in the coastal state under a seat-sharing formula with the Congress — both parties are members of the opposition Bloc INDIA.

Excerpts from an interview:

AAP government has been registering corruption cases against former Congress ministers in Punjab. The Congress is saying their leaders are clean. Will not an alliance between Congress and the AAP give BJP to call it opportunistic?

Most of the alliances are driven by political compulsions. In that sense, it can be said that most political alliances are opportunistic. However, politics is the art of the possible. The first and foremost priority of the parties is to win the maximum number of seats. How will they do it in which state, will depend upon the specific factual situation in each state.

It is true that a Congress-AAP alliance in Punjab will face several roadblocks, primarily because both parties are seeking to capture the same political space. Also, there are certain inherent contradictions because AAP in Punjab has groomed itself at the expense of the Congress. So how this will finally turn out, only time will tell. But I am in agreement with the view that it is a difficult alliance to make.

Must Read | My schools vs your schools: Punjab politics enters the classroom

It is also an ideological dilemma for Congress as its leaders have accused AAP of being the B-team of the BJP and the RSS.

As I said, there are several difficulties and hurdles to cross. Leaders of both the political parties are trained to take a practical view of the situation. If both Congress and AAP leadership feel that they can’t co-exist then obviously there would be no alliance. But, if they feel that in order to achieve a larger political objective, mainly to defeat the BJP-led NDA, this is necessary, then they will find a way to come together. But that is a big if. Please do not forget, the AAP has 92 MLAs in Punjab, does not suffer from a major anti-incumbency, and has national ambitions. It would want maximum number of seats from Punjab. So this alliance poses many difficulty.

Story continues below this ad

Why can’t AAP win more seats by dividing the anti-incumbency votes between Congress, BJP and the SAD.

BJP and SAD (Shiromani Akali Dal) are possibly going to form an alliance. If there is no alliance between the Congress and the AAP, then the SAD-BJP alliance will benefit. There is a logic in not having an alliance between the APP and Congress. There is another logic that if they fight together, they can sweep the election.

Won’t such an alliance be more damaging to Congress in long term than the AAP?

If Congress feels it needs to take the lead to bring together the forces that can defeat the BJP, in that case many sacrifices are expected from the Congress. But it would be unfair for anyone to expect that all the sacrifices should be made by Congress only.

Story continues below this ad

Also Read | Fear of going to jail has made Cong leaders accept an alliance with AAP in Punjab: Sunil Jakhar

AAP has defeated two Congress governments — in Delhi and in Punjab. Their image would be shattered if they ally with Congress.

In politics what is important is winning. If you win, your image goes up. If you loose, your image goes down. So nobody should be too worried about it.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Tags:

Aam Aadmi Party Bharatiya Janata Party Congress