Though the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has started giving conflicting signals on taking Congress’s support to form a Government in Delhi, the Congress seems to be rethinking its earlier offer of conditional support. The party believes that AAP will use the “opinion survey” to defame it in public and has started preparations for re-election under a new leadership in the State.
A senior Congress leader told Business Line that though it still go by the offer of support , the AAP may not need it. “We have started thinking of a re-election,” the leader said, adding that AAP was never serious about forming a Government.
The AAP, which is taking a referendum on the issue, is supposed to announce its final decision on Monday. Congress insiders say the support offer was to avoid another election in Delhi. “The AAP was never interested in forming the Government. If they had any interest, they would have taken our support earlier. This opinion survey is just a gimmick. Our information is that they will announce soon that the people of Delhi do not want them to take Congress support,” he added.
There were also reports that the AAP will soon launch a campaign in Haryana against the Congress Government in the State. The Congress fears that AAP’s campaign will be based on land-grab allegations against party chief Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law, Robert Vadra. “They cannot take our support in Delhi and hold agitations against our Government in Haryana,” the leader said.
On Thursday, Congress replaced Delhi president J.P. Agarwal and appointed Arvinder Singh as the new chief. A big section in the party believes that a re-election will help Congress regain its base. “The euphoria over AAP is over. It is an irresponsible party. Administration is a tightrope walk,” he added.
Meanwhile, the BJP alleged that there was “an understanding” between Congress and AAP. “I don’t know what’s going on between the Congress and the AAP, but when it takes too long to form a Government, it raises so many questions,” BJP state president Vijay Goel said.