The ongoing power struggle within the opposition INDIA bloc took an ugly turn as Delhi Chief Minister and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of hypocrisy and questioning his family's alleged protection from corruption probes under the BJP government.
Kejriwal's sharp rebuttal came after Gandhi, at a rally in Delhi’s Patparganj, mocked the AAP chief, claiming that he was "afraid" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and had allowed corruption to flourish under his watch. Gandhi took a swipe at Kejriwal’s governance, bringing up the alleged liquor scam and accusing him of indulging in "Sheesh Mahal politics" instead of focusing on real issues.
"Don’t preach on fear and bravery. The country knows who is a coward and who is brave," Kejriwal retorted on social media platform X. He directly questioned why the BJP, despite its aggressive stance against opposition leaders, had not taken any legal action against Rahul Gandhi’s family in the National Herald case or Robert Vadra in alleged land scams.
Kejriwal posted, "Modi puts people in jail even by making fake cases like the liquor scam. Why haven't you and your family been arrested in open-and-shut cases like National Herald? How did Robert Vadra get a clean chit from BJP? It is better if you don't preach on fear and bravery."
To further counter Gandhi’s claims, Kejriwal shared a video clip where the Congress leader alleged that "Arvind Kejriwal trembles in front of Modi." The AAP chief dismissed the remark, alleging that Gandhi was simply repeating the BJP's propaganda and questioned whether a tacit understanding existed between the two parties.
INDIA Bloc in Turmoil as Delhi Elections Near
This heated exchange has deepened the cracks in the INDIA alliance, which was formed as a united front against the BJP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. However, the rivalry between AAP and Congress, particularly in Delhi, has remained unresolved, with both parties fielding separate candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.
The Congress, which once dominated Delhi politics under Sheila Dikshit, is aggressively trying to regain lost ground, while Kejriwal’s AAP is fighting to retain control after a decade in power. Meanwhile, the BJP is making a determined push to return to power in the national capital after 25 years in opposition.
While key INDIA allies like Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party have extended their support to Kejriwal, the Congress is sticking to its strategy of contesting independently. This growing tension within the alliance raises questions about its future, especially with crucial state elections and the 2024 general elections on the horizon.
As Delhi heads to the polls on February 5, the escalating war of words between Kejriwal and Gandhi has added a new dimension to an already intense electoral battle. With results due on February 8, the political landscape in the capital remains unpredictable, and the rift in the opposition bloc could prove decisive in shaping its future course.
