It’s the Punjab and Delhi polls that are bothering the Congress. As skeletons tumble out of the AAP cupboard, many seniors are wary of sharing the stage with the party’s candidates. In Punjab, the worry is bigger where the Congress has no alliance with AAP. So, it came as no surprise when former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi came down heavily on the Delhi CM, saying he is corrupt and must be punished.
Like Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who needed to attack West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for his political survival, the Congress needs to be very unhappy with the Congress-AAP bonhomie in Delhi for it to do well in Punjab.
As pictures of Arvind Kejriwal with Congress candidate Kanhaiya Kumar went viral, many leaders of the Grand Old Party were left scratching their heads.
One of these is Ajay Maken, who has not been comfortable with the AAP-Congress friendship. He got a shot in the arm when Arvinder Singh Lovely quit Congress to join BJP. Maken stood vindicated as he had objected to Lovely’s push for an alliance with AAP. The senior leader is avoiding being seen campaigning for any AAP candidate.
In Punjab, Congress leaders are avoiding direct contact with AAP leaders as, for them, Kejriwal’s party is a thorn in the flesh.
While Delhi goes to polls on May 25, Punjab goes later. However, by the time Punjab votes, the damage could have been done. This is why the INDIA bloc has little credibility left.
Add to this is the U-turn by the Bengal chief minister. After saying that she would give outside support to INDIA bloc, she ended up saying that she was the one who had formed the alliance.
The fact is that Congress is a partner that many are wary of. It’s needed as it has pan-India presence but, at the same time, its ambition and pan-India status are also the reasons why regional parties like AAP and TMC know that they cannot rise till Congress is chipped at.
The dilemma and discomfort within the Congress suits the AAP and TMC. And hence, the U-turns and multiple messages. It may sound confusing to voters but for the regional parties, it makes perfect sense.
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