Cong Decides to Prepare for All 7 Delhi Lok Sabha Seats in 2024 Polls; Here’s What AAP Has to Say – News18

Congress leader Alka Lamba on Wednesday said her party’s top leadership has directed leaders to prepare for all seven seats in Delhi in Lok Sabha elections in which the BJP swept all seats in the 2014 and 2019 polls.

Lamba’s remarks assume significance as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is a part of the opposition’s I.N.D.I.A. alliance after Congress extended support to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal over the Delhi services bill which was later passed by Parliament.

According to Congress sources, some members raised concerns during the meeting that an alliance with the AAP would mean corruption charges against them would rub off on them and it would kill chances of Congress.

Rahul Gandhi said the alliance’s decision will be taken later and directed leaders to concentrate on seven seats, sources added.

However, Lamba said there was no discussion on seat sharing with the AAP.

Lamba said that Congress’ votes went to the AAP, which won back-to-back Assembly elections in 2015 and 2015 but failed to secure any parliamentary seat in the national capital.

The Congress leader said seven months are left for the 2024 polls and all the party workers have been asked to prepare for all seven seats.

“In the three-hour long meeting today, Rahul Gandhi, Kharge ji, KC Venugopal and Deepak Babaria ji were present. We have been asked to prepare for all seven seats for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections,” she said.

Meanwhile, AICC Delhi in-charge Deepak Babaria said Alka Lamba is a spokesperson but she is not an authorised spokesperson for talking on such important issues. “I have said as an in-charge that there were no such discussions in the meeting today. I refute Alka Lamba’s statement,” he said.

The AAP decimated Congress, which remained in power for 15 years till 2013, to zero seats in Delhi Assembly in the 2015 and 2020 elections. The Arvind Kejriwal-led party also emerged as the principal challenger to Congress in Punjab in 2017 and came to power in 2022.

AAP Reacts to Alka Lamba’s Remarks

AAP leader and Delhi Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj said that his party’s central leadership will take a decision regarding an alliance with Congress.

“…Our central leadership will decide this…Our political affairs committee and INDIA parties will sit together and discuss this (poll alliance),” Bhardwaj said.

AAP spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said if Congress doesn’t want to form an alliance in Delhi, then it makes no sense to go for INDIA alliance’s meeting as it is a waste of time. “The party’s top leadership will decide whether or not to attend the next meeting of INDIA alliance,” she said.

AAP leader Dilip Pandey said, “Since Congress is not willing to make any alliance in Delhi for (2024 Lok Sabha) polls, I guess then there is no point in being part of that INDIA alliance which is meant to save democracy and Constitution.”