New Delhi: Just two days before the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Opposition’s INDIA bloc has suffered a jolt with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announcing its decision to quit the alliance. AAP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh confirmed that the party will contest against the Congress-RJD alliance in Bihar, signaling a complete rupture in the uneasy partnership.
The decision has sparked strong political reactions, particularly from Congress leaders. Senior Dalit leader and former MP Udit Raj launched a scathing attack on AAP and its ideological roots, alleging a long-standing proximity between the Kejriwal-led party and the Sangh Parivar. “AAP is nothing but a tool of the BJP and the RSS,” Udit Raj declared, accusing the party of being created with the covert support of right-wing forces.
He went on to say, “Anna Hazare was just an individual, and Arvind Kejriwal merely ran an NGO. The real power behind the anti-corruption agitation was the RSS, BJP, Bajrang Dal, VHP and ABVP. They gave them the platform, visibility, and political legitimacy. That’s how AAP was born.”
Udit Raj did not hold back on personal allegations either, branding Arvind Kejriwal as “anti-Dalit” and “opposed to the idea of social justice.” He said that although the ideological gap between the Congress and AAP had always been wide, the alliance was forged with the larger aim of safeguarding the Constitution and democratic institutions. “Now it is up to AAP to decide whether it stands with the idea of India or chooses to once again help the BJP from outside,” he remarked.
The exit of AAP from the INDIA alliance could have ramifications for the Opposition’s unity in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, Udit Raj maintained that the withdrawal does not weaken the broader alliance. “They may rejoin in the future, but their absence now will not affect the core strength or resolve of the INDIA bloc,” he added.
With the Parliament session set to begin amidst major national debates—from electoral roll controversies to rising communal tensions—the INDIA bloc’s internal cracks may pose a challenge to presenting a united Opposition front in the days ahead.
