Punjab Congress Leader Accuses AAP and BJP of Collusion Following By-Election Defeat

Allegations of Collaboration Between AAP and BJP

Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, the president of the Punjab Congress, has raised concerns about a covert alliance between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He suggested that both parties are uniting out of fear of Congress's influence in Punjab and Gujarat.

In a statement issued today, Warring dismissed rumors of internal strife within the Congress party, which some attributed to their recent defeat in the Ludhiana West assembly by-election.

He stated, "The Congress did not lose due to infighting; rather, it was the collaboration between AAP and BJP that led to our loss," indicating that the BJP likely transferred a significant portion of its votes to the AAP candidate.

Warring highlighted that while the BJP's vote share plummeted from 41% in the 2024 General Elections to 22% in the recent by-election, the AAP saw its share rise from 20% to 39%. In contrast, Congress's vote share remained relatively stable, dropping slightly from 28% to 27%.

He noted that the BJP's delay in announcing its candidate and lack of campaigning were evident. He also hinted at known connections between a senior BJP figure and an AAP leader, although he did not specify names.

Warring further claimed that the BJP is supporting AAP not just in Punjab but also in Gujarat, where they fielded a newcomer against AAP in the Visavadar assembly constituency to aid in AAP's victory and diminish Congress's opposition strength.

Addressing the rumors of discord within Congress, he emphasized, "I want to reaffirm that Congress is united. Differences of opinion do not equate to division." He mentioned that senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, were actively involved in the campaign.

As PCC president, Warring stated he had other responsibilities, including organizing 'Save Constitution Meetings' and engaging with grassroots workers, as directed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

He criticized the media for not questioning AAP leaders, Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, regarding their absence during crucial campaign events.