Cong-AAP alliance: Arvind Kejriwal in Puducherry, extends support to Congress; pre-poll talks still under clouds
In another political churning ahead of the polls, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal is scheduled to visit Puducherry and meet V Narayanasamy to show solidarity, who has been sitting on protest against the ‘autocratic’ rule of Lt Governor Kiran Bedi.
Kejriwal along with the deputy CM Manish Sisodia are expected to visit to the protest site, as Puducherry CM is sitting outside the Raj Niwas, said a statement by the Delhi’s Chief Minister’s Office.
The visit is being connected to a statement given by the AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, who had earlier stated that he is “eager” to join hands with the Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha election.
Puducherry CM V Narayanasamy who is continuing his dharna outside Raj Nivas against Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, says, "Today, a 3 member Congress delegation to meet Rajnath Singh and apprise him of the situation. We want the central govt to take action immediately." pic.twitter.com/ZNWVa6MiyJ
— ANI (@ANI) February 18, 2019
Meanwhile, a Supreme Court order clipping the powers of Delhi government had brought a jolt for the Aam Aadmi Party wherein the apex court held that the Anti-Corruption Bureau will still be under the Central government’s purview and a larger bench would decide upon the ‘Services.’
A Congress leader, on the talks of pre-poll alliance with the AAP and manage a Grand Alliance ahead of the General Election, said, “They want an alliance in Delhi because they won’t be able to win a single seat without our support. We have improved tremendously and Dikshit’s popularity will help us more.”
A simple bone of contention in the pact between Congress and AAP is the trust deficit between the senior leaders of both the party, who have still not made peace with each other. The AAP feels that an alliance with the grand old party can be disastrous for the State Assembly election of Delhi, scheduled for next year.
A top AAP leader told The India Express, “We have shown we can govern effectively despite hostility. If we ally with the Congress for the Lok Sabha, how will we go to the people for the Assembly polls and bash the Congress again?”
Also read: Suspended BJP leader Kirti Azad joins Congress in presence of Rahul Gandhi
First published: 18 February 2019, 13:31 IST