New Delhi: A heated exchange unfolded between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] on Friday after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urging him to reconsider his alliance with the BJP following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remark on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
The letter came amid tensions between the central government and the opposition INDIA bloc, with both sides accusing each other of disrespecting Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution.
Kejriwal appealed to Kumar and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader N. Chandrababu Naidu to reflect on their association with the BJP, claiming the party had “insulted” Ambedkar. He argued that supporting the BJP was incompatible with upholding Ambedkar’s values.
In a scathing response, JD(U) leader Sanjay Jha accused Kejriwal of neglecting Dalit representation within his party. Jha highlighted that AAP had not nominated any Dalit or backward caste leaders to the Rajya Sabha and criticized Kejriwal for failing to appoint a Dalit deputy chief minister in Punjab despite earlier promises.
Jha also defended Nitish Kumar’s record, pointing out his appointment of Jitin Ram Manjhi, a MahaDalit, as Bihar’s chief minister in 2014. He further accused Kejriwal of overlooking marginalized communities, citing the resignation of two Dalit ministers from the AAP cabinet and alleging they were sidelined.
The JD(U) also brought up the treatment of migrant workers during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, claiming the Delhi government forcibly sent Bihar residents back, leaving Nitish Kumar to provide for them.
This clash highlights the deepening rift between opposition parties and the BJP-led NDA, particularly on sensitive issues like Ambedkar’s legacy and caste representation. As of now, AAP has not responded to Jha’s allegations.
This confrontation adds a new dimension to the ongoing political discourse ahead of crucial state and general elections.
 and the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] on Friday after AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, urging him to reconsider his alliance with the BJP following Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s controversial remark on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.){kind=link}