BJP, Congress in ‘internal’ pact: Chandigarh AAP in-charge

Fissures have emerged between the possible alliance of the Congress and the Aam Adami Party (AAP) ahead of the mayoral election to be held on January 29. In a post on “X”, Jarnail Singh, in-charge of Chandigarh AAP, has indicated an “internal” alliance between the BJP and the Congress.

In the post, Jarnail Singh says: “On the one hand, they pose as staunch rivals, on the other, they share power In Chandigarh — the BJP holding the Mayor’s post while the Congress occupying the positions of Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor — which is a clear and strong evidence of an internal BJP-Congress alliance. The country has now understood this fake fight and staged drama. This game will not continue for much longer.”

In another post, Jarnail Singh posed a picture of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge with Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a caption: On the one hand they are rivals, but on the other, they are sharing power in Chandigarh.

Jarnail Singh’s post was issued by Vikrant A Tanwar, state media in-charge of Chandigarh AAP.

It evoked a sharp response from HS lucky, president of the Chandigarh Congress, who also posted, stating that which form of wrestling AAP was playing when in 2024, AAP’s councillor was mayor, while senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor posts were with the BJP.

When this correspondent asked if that meant no alliance of AAP with the Congress for the Mayor’s post, Jarnail Singh replied “yes” in his message.

The strong comments against the Congress by the AAP leader came just day after Congress president Lucky announced that his party would support any political organisation or alliance that was capable of defeating the BJP. Lucky made the announcement after holding a meeting of the Congress councillors in presence of Manish Tewari, Chandigarh MP.

Jatinder Pal Malhotra, president of the Chandigarh BJP, said both the Congress and AAP had no stand and values. Leaders of both these parties levelled allegations against one another in other states also. People had rejected both parties in all over the country. People of Chandigarh knew it well. The statement of AAP has further exposed them.

Devinder Singh Babla, vice-president of the Chandigarh BJP, said the statement of AAP was an insult to the Congress, which was keen to form an alliance for its own interest.

The development has surprised all because both parties had fought the mayoral elections together in the past. They also fought the MP election jointly and defeated the BJP’s candidate.

Recently, two AAP councillors, Suman Sharma and Poonam, joined the BJP, increasing its numbers in the MC House to 18. The number of councillors with the previous alliance partners, AAP and the Congress, and the BJP is now equal (18) in the House.

To win the election to the post of Mayor, 19 votes, out of a total of 35 councillors in the MC House, are required. The Congress has six councillors and AAP 11. The Chandigarh MP also has voting right. The decision to hold the election by a show of hands this time has changed the game plan of all parties.

The previous mayoral elections were held by secret ballot and cross-voting played a major role in close contests.

Charanjit Singh Villy, president of the city unit of the SAD, said that AAP and the Congress had exposed themselves before the public once again.