Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla has reaffirmed that the opposition’s INDIA alliance remains united and will collectively strategize for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, despite AAP’s crushing defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections.
Shukla emphasized that the alliance was always meant for national elections, allowing state units to take independent decisions for local polls. “When the INDIA alliance was formed, it was decided that we would contest the Lok Sabha elections together while allowing state units to make independent decisions regarding local polls. When the Parliamentary elections approach, discussions within the INDIA alliance will resume,” he stated.
He further assured that while electoral strategies may differ at the state level, opposition unity remains intact. “We have to assess the next strategy of the parties, but the unity within the opposition remains intact and will continue,” Shukla said.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury took a direct jab at AAP, attributing its loss to “ego.” She clarified that Congress contested the Delhi Assembly elections independently to strengthen its presence. “We were fighting for our place. We were not with anyone. AAP lost the polls because of their ego. This proves what we were saying earlier,” Chowdhury told ANI. She further stressed that the INDIA alliance is crucial for the nation’s welfare and for protecting the Constitution.
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who had actively campaigned for AAP in Delhi, acknowledged the setback but remained optimistic about the alliance’s future. “We wanted AAP to win the Delhi elections, but BJP won. In a democracy, we have to accept the people’s mandate. Defeat teaches a lot, and in the days to come, the INDIA alliance will gain more strength,” Yadav stated.
AAP suffered a massive defeat in Delhi, managing only 22 seats—a drastic decline from its 2020 tally of 62—while the BJP secured a landslide victory with 48 seats, reclaiming power in the national capital after 27 years. Despite the setback, INDIA bloc leaders maintain that the alliance remains strong and will focus on mounting a united challenge against the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
