Thu Dec 26 13:01:57 UTC 2024: ## INDIA Bloc Faces Fracture as AAP Threatens to Leave Over Congress Feud

**New Delhi, December 27, 2024** – The INDIA opposition alliance is facing a major crisis, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) issuing a 24-hour ultimatum to the Congress, threatening to leave the coalition if their demands aren’t met. The escalating feud, marked by mutual accusations and recriminations, casts a shadow over the opposition’s efforts to challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s BJP in the upcoming elections.

The conflict stems from a series of disagreements, including seat-sharing disputes in Haryana and Maharashtra, which resulted in electoral setbacks for the alliance. Recent comments by Congress’s Delhi leader, Ajay Maken, further inflamed tensions, prompting AAP to accuse the Congress of acting at the BJP’s behest. AAP leaders Atishi and Sanjay Singh accused Maken of making anti-national remarks against AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is also part of the INDIA bloc, offered only a “Happy New Year” response to questions about the deepening crisis. While Banerjee has been touted as a potential leader for the INDIA bloc, receiving support from several prominent figures, she has maintained she is focused on the bloc’s success.

The escalating conflict comes as the Congress’s standing within the INDIA alliance weakens. Recent electoral defeats and disagreements over strategic approaches in Parliament, including the Congress’s handling of the Adani issue, have raised concerns among other members. The AAP’s threat to leave the alliance represents a significant challenge to the INDIA bloc’s unity and effectiveness, potentially altering the landscape of opposition politics. The next 24 hours will be critical in determining the future of this key opposition coalition.

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