There should be no alliance with AAP in Delhi, says Congress’ Ajay Maken

“I also feel that there should not have been any support (from the Congress) to the AAP in 2013 and neither any alliance for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. But this is my personal view,” the AICC treasurer told mediapersons at the new Congress headquarters on Kotla Road. “Support to AAP (in 2013 and alliance in 2024) made the people of Delhi to suffer and benefitted the BJP,” he further said.

On whether the Congress would ally with the AAP, Maken said, “I feel that Kejriwal getting prominence in Delhi helps the BJP. To fight the BJP, it is important to have a strong Congress at the national level.”

“By weakening Congress, one cannot fight BJP,” he added.

Maken said in Haryana, the Congress wanted to have an alliance with the AAP, but soon after his release from jail, Kejriwal announced that his party will contest all 90 Assembly seats in Haryana, whereas “we were in an advanced stage of discussion for an alliance”.

“As far as Delhi is concerned, Kejriwal himself announced soon after the Lok Sabha polls that they will fight the Delhi election on their own,” Maken added.

Maken said when the Congress had its government in Delhi, led by chief minister Sheila Dikshit, it won all the seven Lok Sabha seats in the Capital.

“By stopping them (BJP) in Delhi, we stopped them from assuming power at the Centre as whosoever wins Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, goes on to form the national-level government,” he noted. “But ever since the AAP has come to power in Delhi, the opposite is happening and the BJP has been forming the government at the Centre as it has won all the seven Lok Sabha seats. Then who is with the BJP?” he asked.

Maken further said he stands by his earlier remark that Kejriwal is “anti-national” and the AAP’s strengthening in the Capital will only help the BJP.