Meanwhile in Punjab, Congress netas target AAP

NEW DELHI: Congress leaders from Punjab launched a scathing attack on AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal over his arrest, mirroring the complicated relationship between the two parties, with the local unit relishing the discomfiture of the Kejriwal outfit even as AICC sides with AAP in its hour of crisis.

Congress and AAP have joined hands across states for LS elections, but chosen to be opponents in Punjab which is ruled by the latter.

AICC Kisan Congress chief and Punjab MLA Sukhpal Khaira chided AAP for its claim of “Kattar Imandar”, saying, “You reap what you sow. These fake revolutionaries inflicted false criminal cases against their opponents in Punjab surpassing the brutality of BJP.”


As Khaira let out a string of tweets warning doomsday scenario for AAP, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu said, “Kejriwal and party rose to power promising Swaraj and Jan Lokpal, but ironically they have turned out to be the biggest thugs. This corruption case in Delhi is just the tip of the iceberg. Punjabs’ looted money by runaway (Raghav) Chadha is yet to be recovered.” He alleged that AAP has committed a similar liquor scam in Punjab, and asked CM Bhagwant Mann to add Kejriwal’s name to the list of 300 arrested persons which he has displayed as public hoardings.

While state unit chief Raja Warring condemned the arrest as BJP’s “vendetta politics” designed to target opposition leaders, CLP leader Partap Bajwa maintained a strategic silence, neither condemning the arrest but also not wanting to contradict the AICC’s stance by attacking AAP.

As Congress and AAP face off in Punjab as rivals, local Congress leaders appear to be optimistic that charges of graft and high-profile arrest of Kejriwal would dent the governing party’s standing among people. AAP demolished Congress in 2022 state elections, threatening to repeat the feat in LS polls. While a majority of Congress MPs from the state wanted a tie-up with AAP, AICC leadership arrived at a seat-sharing formula with Kejriwal in Delhi and other states, but left Punjab out. It was felt that party was better placed in the national contest because AAP has lost its novelty after two years in power. Also, it was felt that AAP and Congress joining hands would open the opposition space to a third party in BJP.


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