In the lead-up to the February 5 Delhi Assembly elections, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress of a covert alliance, referring to it as a “jugalbandi” (duet).
Kejriwal’s remarks followed a series of exchanges initiated by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who criticized the AAP chief for not fulfilling promises related to reducing inflation and combating corruption in the national capital. During a rally in Delhi’s Seelampur, Gandhi stated, “Arvind Kejriwal had talked of removing corruption. Has he removed corruption? Pollution, corruption, and inflation are on the rise in Delhi.”
In response, Kejriwal posted on social media, “Today Rahul Gandhi came to Delhi. He abused me a lot. But I will not comment on his statements. His fight is to save Congress, my fight is to save the country.”
The exchange intensified when BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya retorted, “Worry about the country later, save your New Delhi seat now.” Kejriwal countered, “I said just one line about Rahul Gandhi and the reply is coming from the BJP. Look how much trouble the BJP is facing. Perhaps this Delhi election will expose the jugalbandi going on behind the scenes between Congress and BJP for years.”
The upcoming Delhi elections are set to be a three-way contest, with AAP seeking a third consecutive term, while both the BJP and Congress aim to unseat the current administration. The 70-member assembly will go to the polls on February 5, with votes counted on February 8.
In previous elections, AAP secured significant victories, winning 67 seats in 2015 and 62 seats in 2020. The party initially rose to prominence by ending Congress’s 15-year rule in Delhi in 2013.
As the election date approaches, the political climate in Delhi remains charged, with major parties engaging in sharp exchanges and strategic positioning to sway the electorate.
