Sat Jan 18 17:34:32 UTC 2025: ## Congress Rules Out Post-Poll Alliance with AAP in Delhi
**New Delhi, January 18, 2025** – Senior Congress leader Ajay Maken has definitively ruled out a post-election alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections, scheduled for February 5th. Despite the AAP being a part of the INDIA bloc, a coalition of opposition parties, Maken stated his personal belief that any alliance would be detrimental to the Congress.
Addressing a press conference, Maken reiterated his previously expressed criticism of AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal, calling him “anti-national,” a statement that caused friction within the INDIA bloc. He maintained that his views are personal, but he also stated that he believes the Congress should not have supported the AAP in 2013 or formed an alliance in 2024 for the Lok Sabha elections. He argued that past support for the AAP benefited the BJP and weakened the Congress.
Maken emphasized the importance of a strong national Congress party to effectively counter the BJP, asserting that alliances that weaken the Congress ultimately benefit the BJP. He highlighted Delhi’s significance, stating that the party winning Delhi’s Lok Sabha seats often goes on to form the central government. He criticized the AAP’s performance in Delhi, claiming its presence hasn’t effectively checked the BJP’s influence.
Maken also pointed to instances in Haryana and Delhi where the Congress attempted to form alliances with the AAP, but the AAP subsequently decided to contest all seats independently. He concluded that a strong national Congress is essential to challenge the BJP, making a post-election alliance with AAP unlikely.
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